SMAT 2025 Final, Cricket has a funny way of rewarding those who refuse to give up. Sometimes, all it takes is one night, one innings, one moment of magic to flip the script entirely. For Ishan Kishan, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025 final wasn’t just another domestic match—it was a roaring reminder of who he is and what he brings to the game.
On a high-voltage Jharkhand vs Haryana Final night at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Kishan didn’t just bat; he set the stage on fire. His breathtaking century dismantled Haryana and carried Jharkhand to their first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, marking a landmark chapter in the state’s cricketing history.
Let’s unpack how this unforgettable night unfolded—and why it could be a turning point not just for Jharkhand cricket, but for Ishan Kishan’s career too.
A Final with More Than Just a Trophy at Stake
This wasn’t a routine domestic final. Sitting in the stands were national selectors Pragyan Ojha, Ajay Ratra, and RP Singh. Every run, every shot, every reaction mattered. With the T20 World Cup squad discussions looming, performances here carried extra weight.
For Ishan Kishan—out of India’s T20I setup since 2023—this was the perfect stage. No safety net. No second chances. Just bat, ball, and belief.
And belief, as it turned out, was Kishan’s biggest weapon.
Ishan Kishan: No Runway Needed for Takeoff
Some players need time to settle. Kishan doesn’t. From the moment he took guard, it felt like the match was being played on his terms.
Opening the innings for Jharkhand, the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter launched into attack mode almost immediately. Haryana’s bowlers tried changing lengths, pace, angles—nothing worked. Kishan picked them apart like a seasoned surgeon, precise yet ruthless.
His final numbers? 101 runs off just 49 balls, studded with six fours and ten towering sixes. That’s not just a century—that’s a statement.
It was the kind of innings that grabs attention, shakes confidence, and leaves bowlers searching for answers that simply don’t exist.
Losing Early Wickets? Not a Problem
SMAT 2025 Final, Jharkhand did lose Virat Singh early, but if Haryana thought that might slow things down, they were sorely mistaken.
Kishan stayed in overdrive, playing with a mix of brute force and calculated control. He wasn’t slogging blindly; he was reading the bowlers, stepping into shots, and sending the ball sailing with effortless timing.
It felt less like a final under pressure and more like a masterclass in T20 batting.
The Match-Defining Partnership with Kumar Kushagra
Every great innings needs a supporting act, and Kumar Kushagra played his role to perfection.
Together, Kishan and Kushagra stitched a record-breaking 177-run partnership, completely flattening Haryana’s hopes. Kushagra was no mere spectator—his 81 off 38 balls, decorated with eight fours and five sixes, matched Kishan shot for shot.
It was like watching two musicians perfectly in sync, playing a tune that the opposition simply couldn’t stop.
By the time Haryana finally broke the stand—Sumit Kumar knocking over Kishan—the damage was already irreversible.
A Late Flourish That Pushed the Game Out of Reach
If Haryana hoped for some respite after removing the two set batters, they were quickly disappointed.
Anukul Roy and Robin Minz walked in with one clear mission: finish strong. And finish strong they did.
-
Anukul Roy: 40* off 20 balls
-
Robin Minz: 31* off just 14 balls
SMAT 2025 Final, The late surge propelled Jharkhand to a colossal 262-run total, leaving Haryana with a mountain to climb. In T20 cricket, chases like that are less about skill and more about miracles.
And miracles were in short supply that night.
Haryana’s Chase: A Mountain Too High
Chasing 263 in a final is never easy. Chasing it against a fired-up bowling unit is borderline impossible.
Jharkhand’s bowlers came out breathing fire. Left-arm seamer Vikash Singh struck early, setting the tone. Sushant Mishra followed up with sharp pace and bounce, keeping Haryana on the back foot.
From the very beginning, Haryana were scrambling—not chasing.
Brief Sparks, Quickly Extinguished
To Haryana’s credit, there were moments of resistance.
Yashvardhan Dalal played a blazing cameo, smashing a 19-ball fifty on his way to 53 off 22 balls, peppered with five sixes. Nishant Sindhu joined him briefly, scoring 31 off 15 balls, and for a fleeting moment, the crowd wondered—could this turn into something special?
That thought didn’t last long.
Anukul Roy Slams the Door Shut
Enter Anukul Roy, the quiet enforcer.
His left-arm spin proved decisive. In quick succession, he removed both Dalal and Sindhu, effectively pulling the plug on Haryana’s chase. Once those wickets fell, the energy drained instantly.
Samant Jakhar tried swinging his way out with 38 off 17 balls, but by then, it was more about damage control than victory.
Jharkhand kept chipping away, wickets falling at regular intervals, until Haryana were finally bowled out for 193 in 18.3 overs—a 69-run defeat that underlined Jharkhand’s dominance.
Jharkhand’s Historic Moment
When the final wicket fell, history was made.
Jharkhand clinched their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, only their second domestic trophy overall after the Vijay Hazare Trophy win back in 2010–11. For a team often overshadowed in Indian domestic cricket, this was validation, pride, and promise rolled into one.
And at the center of it all stood Ishan Kishan—captain, leader, match-winner.
An Emotional Ishan Kishan: A Moment Years in the Making
As his teammates gathered to lift the trophy, Kishan couldn’t hold back his emotions.
He kissed the silverware, looked up at the sky, and shared heartfelt embraces with Saurabh Tiwary and Shahbaz Nadeem—former players who now serve as administrators for the Jharkhand State Cricket Association.
For a player who has tasted both stardom and setbacks, this moment meant everything.
“This is definitely the happiest moment of my career,” Kishan admitted. “We have never won a domestic tournament under my captaincy. This was something where you had to prove yourself.”
From Doubt to Belief: Kishan’s Inner Journey
The past couple of years haven’t been smooth for Kishan. Dropped from the national team in 2023, questioned over discipline, and pushed out of the spotlight—it was a testing phase.
But instead of sulking, Kishan chose to grind.
“There are times when you doubt yourself,” he said. “But when you win it, you know what quality you have, what changes you can make, how you can turn the game around.”
That self-reflection translated into runs—517 runs in the tournament, making him the leading run-scorer and top six-hitter of SMAT 2025.
Performing When It Matters Most
What makes this achievement even more special is the timing.
With selectors watching closely, Kishan didn’t just perform—he dominated. He led from the front, set standards for his team, and showed that pressure brings out the best in him.
“When I wasn’t selected for India, I felt bad,” he admitted honestly. “But I told myself—maybe I need to do more. Maybe I need to make my team win.”
Mission accomplished.
Handling Setbacks Like a Champion
Kishan spoke openly about the mental challenges of being dropped and the importance of staying grounded.
“Frustration will only pull you down,” he said, offering advice to young cricketers. “Hard work, belief, and focus—that’s what takes you forward.”
It’s wisdom earned the hard way—and delivered with conviction.
Family, Fitness, and a Bollywood Mantra
Behind every comeback is a support system, and for Ishan Kishan, family played a huge role.
“My family always believed I would bounce back,” he shared. “That gave me strength.”
He also found motivation in an iconic line from the film Baahubali:
‘Wherever a king goes, he remains a king.’
Simple. Powerful. Perfectly fitting.
What This Win Means for Indian Cricket
While Kishan isn’t obsessing over national selection right now, performances like this are impossible to ignore.
“I’m not expecting anything,” he said with a smile. “My job is to keep performing.”
If Indian cricket is watching—and it surely is—this was Kishan reminding everyone that class doesn’t disappear. It waits.
Read More: Kartik Sharma IPL Auction: Who Is CSK’s Rs 14.20 Crore Uncapped Sensation?
Conclusion
The SMAT 2025 Final will be remembered not just for Jharkhand’s maiden title, but for the story behind it. A captain under pressure. A team hungry for history. And an innings that silenced doubters.
Ishan Kishan didn’t just win a trophy—he reclaimed belief, confidence, and relevance. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, he showed that setbacks are just setups for comebacks.
And if this night was any indication, the runway ahead looks wide open.
