Jharkhand created history in the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 (SMAT 2025), claiming the title for the first time. Under the captaincy of Ishan Kishan, Jharkhand defeated Haryana by 69 runs.
Sports News: Jharkhand clinched their first SMAT title by defeating Haryana in the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025. This is only the second domestic title for Jharkhand since winning the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2010-11. The team delivered a stellar performance under the leadership of Ishan Kishan. After losing the toss, Jharkhand was invited to bat first.
The team scored 262 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 20 overs. In response, the entire Haryana team was bundled out for 193 runs in 18.3 overs. Jharkhand won the match by 69 runs, securing the trophy.
Jharkhand's Innings
After losing the toss, Jharkhand was asked to bat first. The start was a bit challenging when Virat Singh was dismissed for just 2 runs. Following this, captain Ishan Kishan and Kumar Kushagra forged a brilliant partnership. Ishan Kishan scored 101 runs off 49 balls, including 10 sixes and 6 fours. With this century, he became the first captain to score a century in the SMAT final.
Kumar Kushagra scored 81 runs off 38 balls, with 5 sixes and 8 fours. Additionally, Anukul Roy remained unbeaten on 40 and Robin Minz contributed an unbeaten 31 runs. Jharkhand posted a challenging total of 262 for 3 wickets in their 20 overs, setting a target for Haryana.
Haryana's Batting
Haryana came out to chase the target of 263 runs, but the team stumbled from the start. Captain Ankit Kumar, the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament, was dismissed for a duck. Ashish Sivach, who followed, faced only 3 balls and was out for a duck. Meanwhile, Arsh Ranga and Yashvardhan Dalal tried to stabilize the innings. Ranga was dismissed for 17 runs. Haryana scored 58 runs and lost 3 wickets in the first 6 overs. Subsequently, Nishant Sindhu and Yashvardhan Dalal shared a 67-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Dalal scored 58 runs while Sindhu made 31 runs, but the team ultimately fell far short of the target.
Jharkhand Bowlers Shine
Jharkhand's bowlers delivered an excellent performance. Sushant Mishra and Bal Krishna took 3 wickets each, while Vikash Singh and Anukul Roy claimed 2 wickets apiece. The entire Haryana team was bundled out for 193 runs in 18.3 overs, and Jharkhand won the match by 69 runs. Ishan Kishan's captaincy proved decisive in this victory.
He not only scored a century but also skillfully managed the team players and adopted an aggressive strategy at the right time. Under his leadership, the Jharkhand team achieved a historic domestic success and won the SMAT title for the first time.
