The group stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 concludes today, with ten teams still in contention for the remaining four spots in the Super League phase. While defending champions Mumbai and Andhra from Group A, alongside Jharkhand and Rajasthan from Group D, have already secured their progression, the race remains wide open in Groups B and C.
The scenario in Group C presents a virtual knockout in Hyderabad, where Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana, and Bengal are all tied on 16 points with four wins each. The fixtures for the final round have set up a direct shootout: Haryana will lock horns with Bengal, while Punjab faces Gujarat later in the day.
The winners of these two respective matches will secure the top two spots in the group. However, Punjab’s prospects could be dampened by the likely absence of opener Abhishek Sharma for this critical encounter.
In Group B, the competition in Kolkata is more layered. Table-toppers Hyderabad, the only team in the group with five wins, are prime candidates to advance as they face a Chandigarh side that has managed only two victories. The battle for the second qualification spot is primarily between Madhya Pradesh and Goa, both tied on 16 points.
Rajat Patidar’s Madhya Pradesh side faces Jammu & Kashmir, while Goa takes on Maharashtra. Although Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Jammu & Kashmir have three wins each, their chances of progressing are slim and depend heavily on other results and margins.
For the teams that have already qualified in Groups A and D, the final round serves as a battle for pole position. Mumbai and Andhra, both on 20 points, face Vidarbha and Odisha respectively to determine the Group A topper. Meanwhile, Kerala will aim to finish their campaign on a high note against Andhra, though they will be without captain Sanju Samson due to national duty.
In Group D, the unbeaten duo of Ishan Kishan’s Jharkhand and Rajasthan will clash in Ahmedabad to decide the group winner, while former champions Tamil Nadu are left fighting to avoid a bottom-place finish.
The Super League phase will commence on Friday, featuring a round-robin format across two groups. Matches will be held at the DY Patil Academy in Ambi and the MCA Cricket Stadium in Gahunje, with the group toppers advancing to the final on December 18.
Broadcast coverage for the Super League will be available on the Star Sports 3 TV channel, while select matches will be streamed live via the JioHotstar app and website.