Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Jharkhand Claim Maiden Title After Record Final

Jharkhand sealed the title with a 69-run victory over Haryana in the final of the 2025–26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, marking a historic moment for the state in Indian domestic cricket. Playing their first final in the tournament’s history, Jharkhand posted 262 for three, the highest total ever recorded in a T20 final anywhere in the world.

The total surpassed Italy’s 244 for four against Romania in 2024 and was also the second-highest score by any team in a T20 knockout match, behind only Somerset’s 265 for five in England’s T20 Blast in 2022. According to tournament records, it was Jharkhand’s highest score in T20 cricket.

The innings was anchored by wicketkeeper-batter and captain Ishan Kishan, who scored 101 from 49 balls. His innings included 10 sixes and eight fours and came at a strike rate close to 200. It was only the second century ever scored in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final, underlining the scale of the performance on the biggest stage.

Kishan’s hundred was the third-fastest in a men’s T20 final, behind centuries by Mitchell Owen in Australia’s Big Bash League and Austria’s Karanbir Singh in an international regional tournament. The knock was Kishan’s second century of the tournament and the fifth of his Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy career, equalling the competition record jointly held with Abhishek Sharma.

Jharkhand’s innings was built on a decisive 177-run partnership for the second wicket between Kishan and Kumar Kushagra. Kushagra scored 81 from 38 deliveries, providing sustained momentum as Haryana’s bowlers struggled to contain the scoring. Late contributions from Anukul Roy and Robin Minz ensured Jharkhand maintained the run rate through the final overs.

The final, played in Pune, became one of the most prolific matches in T20 history. The two teams combined to score 455 runs, the highest aggregate in any T20 playoff or knockout match. A total of 33 sixes were struck, with Jharkhand hitting 20 of them, another record for a knockout game in the format.

Haryana’s chase of 263 began poorly, with early wickets leaving them under immediate pressure. Although wicketkeeper-batter Yashvardhan Dalal scored a fighting half-century, Haryana were bowled out for 193 in 18.3 overs.

Anukul Roy played a central role in halting the chase, removing key batters in quick succession. He also contributed with the bat, scoring a rapid 40 from 20 balls, underlining his value as an all-rounder throughout the tournament. Jharkhand’s bowling effort was completed by Sushant Mishra, who finished with figures of three for 21 in the final.

Jharkhand’s triumph made them the 12th team to win the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy since its inception. Previously, Baroda, Gujarat, Karnataka and Mumbai had won the title twice, while Tamil Nadu remain the most successful side with three championships.

The title capped a remarkable tournament for Jharkhand, who crossed the 200-run mark five times during the campaign, the second-highest tally in a single edition of the competition. Before this season, the team had managed only three 200-plus totals in their entire Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy history.

Individually, Kishan finished the tournament as Jharkhand’s leading run-scorer with 517 runs, the third-highest tally in a single season of the competition. His strike rate of 197.32 was among the highest recorded in the tournament’s history, reflecting the increasingly aggressive nature of domestic T20 cricket in India.

Anukul Roy’s all-round numbers also stood out. He scored 303 runs, took 18 wickets and held nine catches across the tournament, making him only the second player in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy history to achieve the double of 300 runs and 15 wickets in a single edition. Sushant Mishra ended the tournament with 22 wickets, the joint-highest tally for a bowler in one season.

Context The 2025–26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was the highest-scoring edition of the tournament, with an average run rate of 8.59, surpassing the previous season’s record. A total of 20 centuries were scored, the most in any T20 tournament globally, while 1,884 sixes were hit across the competition.

Jharkhand’s success reflects a broader trend in Indian domestic cricket, where teams are increasingly producing high-scoring performances and developing players capable of influencing games at international level. For Kishan, the tournament came at a crucial time, with India’s selectors due to meet ahead of upcoming T20 international series and global events.

The title is only Jharkhand’s second senior domestic crown, following their Vijay Hazare Trophy win in the 2010–11 season. This victory, achieved with record-breaking numbers and commanding performances, is likely to be remembered as a defining moment in the state’s cricketing history.