Jharkhand Secures Historic Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Victory

In a historic match, Jharkhand secured their first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title by defeating Haryana by 69 runs. Captain Ishan Kishan's explosive century, which included 10 sixes, propelled the team to a record total of 262 runs. Despite a promising start from Haryana's Yashvardhan Dalal, their chase faltered under pressure, leading to a significant victory for Jharkhand. This win marks a new chapter in Jharkhand's cricket history, establishing them as a formidable force in domestic T20 cricket.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 19, 2025, 20:12 IST

Jharkhand Triumphs in SMAT Final

In a remarkable achievement, Jharkhand claimed their inaugural Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) title at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, defeating Haryana by a significant margin of 69 runs. The team's captain, Ishan Kishan, played a pivotal role, scoring a historic century that propelled Jharkhand to a staggering total of 262/3, marking the highest score ever recorded in a T20 tournament final.

Kishan's Record-Breaking Performance

After Haryana's captain Ankit Kumar opted to field first, Jharkhand faced an early setback when Anshul Kamboj dismissed Virat Singh in the opening over. However, the partnership between Ishan Kishan and Kumar Kushagra transformed the game. Kishan, who last played internationally in November 2023, made a powerful statement to selectors by scoring a century off just 45 balls, finishing with 101 runs. His innings included 10 sixes and six fours, while Kushagra contributed a brisk 81 runs off 38 balls.

With this century, Kishan became only the second player to score a hundred in a SMAT final, following Amolpreet Singh's 113 for Punjab against Baroda in the 2023-24 season. He also set a new record for the most sixes in a SMAT final. Late contributions from Anukul Roy (40 off 20) and Robin Minz (31* off 14) helped Jharkhand reach their record total. Anshul Kamboj, the tournament's leading wicket-taker, struggled, conceding 51 runs in four overs.

Haryana's Struggles in the Chase

Facing a daunting target of 264 runs, Haryana needed a strong start but instead encountered disaster as Vikash Singh took two wickets in the first over, dismissing both captain Ankit Kumar and Ashish Siwach without scoring. Yashvardhan Dalal provided a brief spark, reaching his fifty in just 19 balls before falling for 53 runs off 22 balls. Nishant Sindhu added 31 runs, but the mounting pressure proved too much for the Haryana batting lineup.

Jharkhand's Anukul Roy shifted the momentum with two crucial wickets in the 10th over, leading to a collapse in Haryana's middle and lower order. Sushant Mishra and Bal Krishna also contributed by taking key wickets, ultimately restricting Haryana to 193 runs and sealing a 69-run victory for Jharkhand.

Jharkhand's Historic Achievement

This victory marks a significant milestone for Jharkhand, as it is their first time lifting the prestigious domestic T20 trophy, joining the ranks of elite Indian domestic champions. For Ishan Kishan, this century was his fifth in SMAT history, tying him for the most centuries in the tournament and solidifying his reputation as one of India's most explosive white-ball cricketers.