Hardik Pandya's Stellar Comeback Leads Baroda to Victory in SMAT

In a thrilling display of cricket, Hardik Pandya made a sensational return, leading Baroda to a seven-wicket victory over Punjab in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Meanwhile, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi set a record with his century, although it wasn't enough for Bihar to secure a win. Karnataka's Devdutt Padikkal also shone with a century, while Arjun Tendulkar's performance helped Goa triumph over Madhya Pradesh. Discover more about these exciting matches and standout performances.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 2, 2025, 16:36 IST

Hardik Pandya Shines on Comeback, Baroda Beats Punjab

Hardik Pandya made a remarkable return to competitive cricket, scoring an impressive 77 runs off 42 balls, guiding Baroda to a thrilling seven-wicket victory against Punjab in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) held in Hyderabad. Additionally, Vaibhav Suryavanshi made history as the youngest player to score a century in SMAT at just 14 years and 250 days, achieving a stunning hundred against Maharashtra in Kolkata. Pandya's explosive performance included seven boundaries and four sixes, and he also contributed with the ball, taking one wicket in his four-over spell, albeit conceding 52 runs. He formed a vital third-wicket partnership of 101 runs with Shivalik Sharma, who was tactically retired after scoring 47 off 32 balls. This strategic move allowed Jitesh Sharma, Baroda's new addition, to join Pandya with the team needing 30 runs off 15 balls, and Baroda clinched victory in just nine more balls.

14-Year-Old Vaibhav Suryavanshi's Record Ton in Vain

Punjab's innings received a boost from Abhishek Sharma's rapid 19-ball fifty and Anmolpreet Singh's explosive 69 runs off 32 balls, but it fell short as Baroda comfortably chased down the target, winning by seven wickets. Both teams now hold two victories from two matches in Group C, with Gujarat leading the group with three wins from four games. In Kolkata, Vaibhav Suryavanshi dazzled with an unbeaten 108 runs off 61 balls, hitting seven fours and seven sixes, following a slow start in his previous three SMAT innings where he scored 14, 13, and 5. This remarkable performance helped Bihar post a total of 176 for 3. Suryavanshi's three centuries in 2025 are tied for the most by an Indian, alongside Abhishek Sharma, while Ayush Mhatre and Ishan Kishan have two centuries each.

Devdutt Padikkal's Century Crushes Tamil Nadu

In Ahmedabad, Devdutt Padikkal's explosive unbeaten century, scoring 102 runs off just 46 balls, propelled Karnataka to a commanding total of 245/3, leading to a massive 145-run victory over Tamil Nadu in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This win marks Karnataka's second victory in four matches, keeping their hopes of advancing to the Super Fours alive. Tamil Nadu's chase struggled to gain momentum, ultimately bowled out for just 100 runs in 14.2 overs, with N Jagadeesan's 21 being the highest score. B Sai Sudharsan managed only 8 runs, while Karnataka's legspinners, Shreyas Gopal and Pravin Dubey, each took three wickets.

Arjun Tendulkar Shines in Goa's Win Over MP

In Kolkata, Arjun Tendulkar, recently traded to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), excelled in Goa's impressive victory over Madhya Pradesh, taking 3 wickets for 36 runs and helping restrict MP to 170 for 6. His key wickets included Venkatesh Iyer for just 5 runs. Goa chased down the target comfortably, winning by seven wickets with nine balls remaining, thanks to Abhinav Tejrana's 55 runs off 33 balls and Suyash Prabhudessai's unbeaten 75 runs off 50 balls. Both Madhya Pradesh and Goa now have two wins in four games in Group B.