The stage is set for a historic clash in Pune as two first-time finalists, Jharkhand and Haryana, prepare to battle for the coveted Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025-26 title. The premier domestic T20 tournament in India will crown a brand new champion at the MCA Stadium on Wednesday, guaranteeing a fresh name on the winners' list.
Road to the Final: Dominant Campaigns
Both finalists have earned their place through impressive and resilient campaigns. Jharkhand, led by wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan, showcased remarkable consistency by storming through the league stage with nine consecutive victories. Their only stumble came in a late Super League game against Andhra, but their dominant run had already secured their spot in the final.
On the other side, Haryana's journey has been one of grit and determination. They qualified as the second-placed team from the competitive Elite Group C. In a significant achievement, they topped a Super League group that included the defending champions, Mumbai, to book their maiden final berth.
A Look at the SMAT Legacy
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has a rich history of dominant teams since its inception in the 2006-07 season. Tamil Nadu stands as the most successful team in the tournament's history, having lifted the trophy three times, including the inaugural edition.
They are followed by Karnataka, Gujarat, and Baroda, each with two titles. The most recent champion, Mumbai, joined this elite group after winning their second title in December 2024, defeating Madhya Pradesh by six wickets in the final.
Complete List of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Winners
Here is a historical record of all the SMAT champions and runners-up:
- 2006/07: Tamil Nadu (Captain: Dinesh Karthik) beat Punjab.
- 2009/10: Maharashtra (Captain: Rohit Motwani) beat Hyderabad.
- 2010/11: Bengal (Captain: Manoj Tiwary) beat Madhya Pradesh.
- 2011/12: Baroda (Captain: Pinal Shah) beat Punjab.
- 2012/13: Gujarat (Captain: Parthiv Patel) beat Punjab.
- 2013/14: Baroda (Captain: Aditya Waghmode) beat Uttar Pradesh.
- 2014/15: Gujarat (Captain: Manpreet Juneja) beat Punjab.
- 2015/16: Uttar Pradesh (Captain: Suresh Raina) beat Baroda.
- 2016/17: East Zone (Captain: Manoj Tiwary) beat Central Zone.
- 2017/18: Delhi (Captain: Pradeep Sangwan) beat Rajasthan.
- 2018/19: Karnataka (Captain: Manish Pandey) beat Maharashtra.
- 2019/20: Karnataka (Captain: Manish Pandey) beat Tamil Nadu.
- 2020/21: Tamil Nadu (Captain: Dinesh Karthik) beat Baroda.
- 2021/22: Tamil Nadu (Captain: Vijay Shankar) beat Karnataka.
- 2022/23: Mumbai (Captain: Ajinkya Rahane) beat Himachal Pradesh.
- 2023/24: Punjab (Captain: Mandeep Singh) beat Baroda.
- 2024/25: Mumbai (Captain: Shreyas Iyer) beat Madhya Pradesh.
- 2025/26: To Be Announced (Jharkhand vs Haryana).
The 2025-26 final promises to be a thrilling encounter where history will be made, and a new champion will etch its name onto the prestigious Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
