Jharkhand scripted history at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune by crushing Haryana by 69 runs to win their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 title, riding on captain Ishan Kishan’s explosive 49-ball 101 and a disciplined bowling performance.
The left-hander’s century and an all-round bowling show helped Jharkhand defend a record 262-run total, the highest ever in an SMAT final.
Record-breaking first innings
Put in to bat, Jharkhand lost opener Virat Singh early but Kishan and Kumar Kushagra turned the final on its head with a blistering 177-run stand for the second wicket. Kishan raced to his fifty in just 24 balls before bringing up his 49-ball 101, becoming only the second batter to score a hundred in an SMAT final, while Kushagra smashed 81 off 38 deliveries to keep the run-rate soaring.
In the death overs, Robin Minz and Anukul Roy added a quickfire partnership to lift Jharkhand to a massive 262/3, a new record total in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final and one of the highest scores in Indian domestic T20 history. The onslaught left Haryana’s bowlers rattled, with none able to apply consistent pressure in the face of Jharkhand’s aggressive intent.
Haryana’s chase derails despite Dalal’s fifty
Chasing 263, Haryana endured a nightmare start as Vikash Singh removed skipper Ankit Kumar and Ashish Siwach in the very first over to leave them 1/2. Arsh Ranga and Yashvardhan Dalal tried to counter-attack, with Dalal racing to a 19-ball fifty to briefly revive hopes of an improbable chase.
However, once Dalal departed for 53, Jharkhand’s bowlers took complete control, with left-arm pacer Sushant Mishra and all-rounder Bal Krishna striking regularly to dismantle the middle and lower order. Haryana were eventually bowled out for 193 inside 19 overs, handing Jharkhand a commanding 69-run victory and sealing a historic first SMAT crown.
Kishan’s dream season and future stakes
Ishan Kishan not only delivered under pressure in the final with his 49-ball 101 but also finished as the leading run-scorer of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 season with over 500 runs, including multiple fifties and centuries.
His fearless approach at the top and sharp on-field captaincy have put him firmly back in the spotlight ahead of upcoming IPL and national selection discussions.
For Jharkhand, the maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 title marks a new era in the state’s T20 cricket, showcasing a core group of exciting talents like Kishan, Kushagra, Mishra and Anukul Roy capable of dominating on big stages.
Haryana, meanwhile, will take heart from their young batting core but will need to reassess their bowling plans in high-pressure knockout games after being blown away in this landmark final.
