Jharkhand clinch their first-ever SMAT Trophy; here are the major contributors who powered their unforgettable title run.
Jharkhand’s maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) title in the 2025-26 season was the story of a side peaking together under the leadership of a talismanic captain, with Ishan Kishan’s explosive batting supported by a strong core of young match-winners. From the group stage to a record-breaking final, they played a fearless brand of T20 cricket that overwhelmed opponents and redefined their domestic identity.
This was Jharkhand’s first-ever SMAT title and came in their first appearance in a T20 domestic final. They went unbeaten through the league and Super League phases, repeatedly crossing 200 with the bat and pulling off the highest successful chase in SMAT history, 236 against Punjab in 18.1 overs.
Across the tournament, Jharkhand crossed 200 five times, having managed only three 200-plus totals in their entire SMAT history before this season. Their batting depth, aggressive mindset, and improved death-overs bowling turned them from perennial outsiders into one of the most feared T20 units in the circuit.
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Ishan Kishan: Leader and run-machine
Ishan Kishan was both the face and the driving force behind Jharkhand’s historic campaign, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 517 runs from 10 innings, at an average of 57.44 and a strike rate in excess of 197. He struck two centuries and multiple rapid half-centuries, while also leading the six-hitting charts for the edition, underlining his dominance throughout the tournament.
His impact was best illustrated through a series of decisive innings. Against Tripura, Kishan produced a brutal, unbeaten 113 off 50 balls, powering Jharkhand to 183 in just 17.3 overs as part of a 153-run partnership with Virat Singh. In the Super League clash against Punjab, his explosive 47 off 23 balls set the tone in a successful record chase of 236, with Kishan attacking from the outset. He saved his finest for the final, hammering a commanding 101 off 49 deliveries against Haryana, an innings laced with ten sixes and six fours, which laid the foundation for Jharkhand’s imposing 262-3 in the title clash.
Equally significant was Kishan’s leadership. His captaincy embraced an aggressive blueprint, marked by astute use of bowlers in both the powerplay and death overs. More importantly, he fostered a dressing-room environment built on trust and freedom, allowing batters such as Kushagra, Anukul Roy, and Robin Minz to express themselves without inhibition – an approach that ultimately powered Jharkhand to their maiden SMAT title.
Read More: SMAT 2025-26: Anukul Roy, the fuel behind Jharkhand’s fiery run to the final
Anukul Roy: The all-round pillar
If Kishan was the headline act, Anukul Roy was the all-round glue holding Jharkhand’s campaign together, duly earning the Player of the Tournament award for his dual impact. The left-handed all-rounder finished the season with 303 runs and 18 wickets, becoming only the second player in SMAT history to combine 300-plus runs with 15-plus wickets in a single edition after Harshal Patel’s 374 runs and 19 wickets in 2019-20.
Roy delivered repeatedly in key moments. Against Karnataka, he produced a decisive all-round display, conceding just 13 runs while picking up two wickets before smashing an unbeaten 95 runs off 58 balls at a strike rate of 163.79. In the Super League clash against Punjab, his 37 off 17 balls at a strike rate of 217.64 provided crucial acceleration before the finishers took over. He capped the campaign in style in the final against Haryana, blasting a rapid 40 not out off 18 deliveries and sharing a decisive 75-run stand with Robin Miz that powered Jharkhand to a commanding 262 runs.
Kumar Kushagra: The breakout star
Kumar Kushagra emerged as the breakout star of the tournament, evolving from a promising youngster into a genuine T20 match-winner. Batting predominantly at No. 3 or No. 4, he struck an impressive balance between composure and explosiveness, producing several innings that decisively shaped matches.
He finishes the campaign with 422 runs at a strike rate north of 160, highlighted by an unbeaten 86 in Jharkhand’s record chase against Punjab and a destructive 81 off 38 balls in the final.
Notable performances from Kumar Kushagra in SMAT 2025-26
- 86* off 42 vs Punjab (Super League): In a daunting chase of 236, Kushagra dismantled the attack with a flurry of boundaries, guiding Jharkhand home with 11 balls to spare.
- 81 off 38 vs Haryana (Final): His high-impact knock, struck at a rate exceeding 210, formed part of a match-defining 177-run partnership with Ishan Kishan effectively sealing the title contest.
Overall, Kushgra’s SMAT career now stands at 673 runs from 28 matches at an average of 32.04, underlining his rapid rise as a dependable and destructive presence in the T20 format.
Read More: SMAT 2025-26: Abhishek Sharma continues to impress, Ishan Kishan makes a statement
Sushant Mishra and the bowling core
While batting grabbed headlines, Jharkhand’s campaign owed plenty to a disciplined bowling group, in which Sushant Mishra played a crucial support role alongside lead Virat Singh and others.
Sushant, the left-arm pacer, took charge of the bowling. He picked 22 wickets in 11 matches in the tournament, while only going wicketless in a single match against Tripura.
The standout bowling performance came in the final, where the attack collectively strangled Haryana’s chase of 263:
- Sushant Mishra’s 3-27 broke the back of the reply.
- Bal Krishna also took three wickets, helping finish things off for Jharkhand in the final.
- Anukul Roy and Vikash Singh picked up two wickets each.
Sushant, who has been recruited by Rajasthan Royals at the IPL 2026 auction, finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025.
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Virat Singh – the anchoring stroke-maker
Virat Singh’s numbers might not match Kishan’s explosion, but his contributions were vital in stabilising or launching Jharkhand’s innings. Typically used in the top order, he alternated between anchor and aggressor depending on the match situation.
A standout effort was his role in the Tripura game, where he scored an unbeaten 53* off 40 in a 153-run partnership with Kishan that turned a tricky chase into a stroll. Earlier in the tournament, he produced match-winning runs in the league stage, including a Player of the Match performance with a composed fifty in a low-scoring game.
In the final, Virat fell early for two, but his overall tournament contribution helped Jharkhand build a flexible batting order that could absorb early blows and still post huge scores.
Thus,Jharkhand’s first SMAT crown was not about one superstar but a collective surge headlined by Kishan, amplified by Roy’s all-round brilliance, Kushagra’s fearless hitting, and solid support from all other players.
19 saal baad – SMAT ko mila hai ek naya champion.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 18, 2025
Undefeated. Unstoppable – Posting the highest score in the format's history in the final – Jharkhand led by Ishan Kishan and the co have earned it! 👏
Special mention for Haryana who've had a fantastic season as well 🙌 pic.twitter.com/VSTGmwkeMg
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