Ishan Kishan announced his return to the T20I conversation with a sensational 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign, ending as the tournament’s top run-scorer and leading six-hitter. His standout performance came in the final, where he smashed a 49-ball 101 to steer Jharkhand to a 69-run victory over Haryana in Pune, securing the team’s first-ever T20 title.
Put in to bat, Jharkhand posted a massive 262 for 3, the highest total in a T20 final, anchored by a breathtaking 177-run second-wicket partnership between Kishan and Kumar Kushagra, who contributed 81 off just 38 balls. The two fell within five deliveries of each other, offering Haryana a fleeting respite in an innings peppered with 20 sixes.
Haryana’s reply started poorly, losing three top-order wickets inside the powerplay. Yashvardhan Dalal and Nishant Sindhu resisted brilliantly, keeping their side in contention, but when both fell by the halfway mark at 104 for 5, the contest slipped firmly in Jharkhand’s favor. Haryana eventually finished all out for 193 in the penultimate over.
Kishan’s Powerplay Blitz
Haryana had early success when Anshul Kamboj induced a mistimed shot from Virat Singh, who was caught at mid-on. But the rest of the powerplay turned into a nightmare for the visitors. Kishan blasted six sixes during this period, racing to a 50-run stand with Kushagra off just 27 balls. He punished anything short or full, pulling pace deliveries and tonking fuller balls straight down the ground.
With Yuzvendra Chahal unavailable due to illness, Haryana relied on Amit Rana’s off-spin to stem the flow of runs. Rana, who had impressed with 3 for 14 in the semi-final, conceded 48 runs in his three overs as Kishan continued his onslaught, surpassing Salil Arora’s tournament record of 28 sixes.
Kushagra Joins the Party
Kumar Kushagra, a key player in Jharkhand’s run to the final, responded in style after modest recent scores of 8 and 17. He attacked from the first ball, stepping out to hit Sumit Kumar for three boundaries in his opening over. While Kishan dominated with raw power, Kushagra impressed with elegant cover drives and smart placement behind square, reaching his half-century in just 29 balls.
Minz and Anukul Seal the Victory
Despite losing both openers, Jharkhand maintained momentum thanks to Robin Minz and Anukul Roy. Roy, who had earlier scored 95 off 58 balls against Karnataka, contributed 40 off 20, while Minz added 31 not out off 14 balls, including three sixes, guiding the team to a commanding total with a 75-run partnership off the last 29 balls.
Haryana’s Resistance
Early dismissals of Jharkhand’s top order gave Haryana hope, with Yashvardhan Dalal making a quick 50 off 19 balls and Sindhu contributing 31 with six fours. However, Anukul Roy’s left-arm spin broke the partnership, and left-arm seamer Sushant Mishra impressed with 3 for 27, while Bal Krishna took three key wickets, including Bhardwaj’s, to trigger celebrations in the Jharkhand camp.
Jharkhand’s clinical batting and disciplined bowling ensured a memorable maiden triumph in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, highlighted by Kishan and Kushagra’s extraordinary performances.
