Ishan Kishan produced one of the finest knocks in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy history as he led Jharkhand to their maiden title with a dominant 69-run win over Haryana in the final at Pune.
The wicketkeeper-batter not only starred with the bat but also opened up about his prolonged absence from Team India, admitting that the snub initially affected him emotionally.
After winning the toss, Haryana elected to field, but Jharkhand’s batters had other plans. The innings got off to a shaky start with Virat Singh dismissed early, but what followed was a breathtaking partnership between Kishan and Kumar Kushagra.
The duo added 177 runs off just 82 balls, completely dismantling Haryana’s bowling attack and setting the platform for a record-breaking total.
Kishan was in attacking mode from the outset, smashing a six off the fourth ball he faced. The left-hander went on to score a scintillating 101 off 49 deliveries, an innings decorated with 10 sixes and six fours at a strike rate of over 200.
Kushagra provided excellent support, hammering 81 off 38 balls with remarkable intent. Late cameos from Anukul Roy and Robin Minz, who added an unbeaten 75 runs off just 29 balls, powered Jharkhand to a mammoth 262/3, one of the highest totals in SMAT history.
Chasing an improbable target, Haryana’s innings collapsed early as they lost two wickets in the opening over. Yashvardhan Dalal offered brief resistance with a quick 53 off 22 balls, but the task proved too steep.
Left-arm pacer Sushant Mishra led the bowling effort with figures of 3/27 as Haryana were bowled out well short of the target. Kishan was named Player of the Match, while Anukul Roy earned the Player of the Series award.
Kishan’s century also saw him script history. He became only the second batter to score a hundred in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final and the first player from Jharkhand to achieve the feat.
The knock helped him finish the tournament as the leading run-scorer, amassing 517 runs in 10 innings at an impressive average of 57.44.
Following the historic triumph, Kishan addressed his long absence from the Indian team. “When I was not selected, I felt quite bad because I was performing well,” he said, adding that he has now shifted his focus solely to improving his game and helping his team win.
The 27-year-old stressed the importance of staying positive and not letting frustration derail progress.
Despite his heroics, Kishan is unlikely to feature in India’s squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup, having not played international cricket since 2023.
However, the Jharkhand captain remains unfazed, insisting that his only job is to keep performing. For Kishan, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy victory represents not just silverware, but renewed belief and the happiest moment of his career so far.
