Captain Ishan Kishan delivered a statement performance to lead Jharkhand to their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, crushing Haryana by 69 runs in the final at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Saving his best for last, the out-of-favour Indian wicketkeeper-batter smashed a blistering 101 off just 49 balls, becoming only the second batter to score a century in a SMAT final.
His innings, coupled with a record-breaking team total of 262 for 3, completely dismantled a Haryana side missing Yuzvendra Chahal due to illness, as they crumbled to 193 all out in the chase.
Despite losing opener Virat Singh in the first over, Jharkhand launched a counter-attack that left the Haryana bowlers reeling. Kishan forged a 177-run partnership for the second wicket with Kumar Kushagra, who played an equally destructive hand with an 81 off 38 balls.
Targeting the short boundaries, Kishan cleared the ropes 10 times, bringing up his century with a one-handed six off Anshul Kamboj. Following their dismissals, a late surge from Anukul Roy, 40 off 20 and Robin Minz, 31 off 14 ensured Jharkhand posted the highest-ever total in a SMAT final, surpassing Punjab’s previous record.
Chasing a mammoth 263, Haryana’s challenge effectively ended in the first over as pacer Vikash Singh removed the in-form Ankit Kumar and Ashish Siwach for ducks. Although Yashvardhan Dalal, who struck a 19-ball 50, and Nishant Sindhu briefly kept the fight alive with a rapid 67-run stand, the pressure of the asking rate proved too much.
Left-arm spinner Anukul Roy broke the resistance by dismissing both set batters in the same over, dashing any hopes of a miracle. Seamers Sushant Mishra and Bal Krishna picked up three wickets apiece to wrap up the tail, securing the historic win.
For Kishan, who finished as the tournament's leading run-scorer with 517 runs, this victory served as a timely reminder to the national selectors present at the venue. Addressing his time away from the national side since November 2023, Kishan admitted the period was difficult but necessary for his growth.
"When I was not selected in the Indian team, I felt quite bad because I was doing well. But I told myself that if I am not selected with this sort of performance, then maybe I have to do more," Kishan said. "I have more trust in myself, more belief in my batting now."
Terming the title win as the "happiest moment" of his career, Kishan revealed he drew motivation from a dialogue in the movie Baahubali during his slump: "'Wherever a king goes, he remains a king.' So, that is the simple thing. Wherever you are, in whatever situation, you shouldn’t stop believing in yourself."
The victory sparked emotional scenes as Kishan celebrated with former teammates turned administrators, Saurabh Tiwary and Shahbaz Nadeem. With the T20 World Cup squad selection looming, the Jharkhand captain noted he isn't expecting anything but is focused solely on performing.
