The highly awaited Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is all set to begin on January 10. Some of the finest T20 players in India will feature in the star-studded domestic T20 tournament. The Indian selectors will be keeping a sharp eye on all the performers as the ICC T20 world cup will be held in India later this year.
The 38-team event will be played across Bangalore, Kolkata, Vadodara, Indore, Mumbai, Tamil Nadu in the group-stage format before Ahmedabad plays host to the knockout stage of the tournament. In this feature, we look ahead at the 5 key players who can potentially light up the marquee tournament.
Here are 5 players to watch out for in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT)
5. Ruturaj Gaikwad
The able right-handed batsman showed his class in the last three matches of CSK in IPL 2020 and scored 3 consecutive fifties. Gaikwad enhanced his reputation as the world saw glimpses of his expertise in the biggest T20 league. Gaikwad looked at home again both pace and spin which is a hallmark of a champion batsman.
Now in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he will be intending to continue his rich vein of form in T20 cricket. Gaikwad has loads of experience of playing domestic T20 cricket as he has already scored over 1000 runs in the format. He ended the last season of SMAT as the leading run-getter with 419 runs. Maharashtra will depend heavily on Gaikwad and will be wishing that he scores consistently and help them lift the trophy.
Also Read: IPL 2020: Faf Du Plessis Compares Ruturaj Gaikwad To Young Virat Kohli
4. Abdul Samad
We all saw the potential of Abdul Samad in IPL 2020 when he executed big strokes against quality bowlers while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2020 in the UAE. He muscled the ball all over the park and can also bat at the top-order.
The all-round cricketer is a perfect T20 player that chips in with both bat and ball. Samad is a match-winner with the bat in hand and J&K will be requiring that he is at his best in SMAT. If Abdul Samad again showcases his six-hitting ability in the tournament, he can certainly be fast-tracked to the Indian T20I side.
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3. Ravi Bishnoi
Another player that everyone is eager to watch in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is the young sensation from Rajasthan Ravi Bishnoi. The leg-spinner was outstanding in his maiden IPL 2020 as he helped KXIP win several matches in the second half of the league.
In IPL, Bishnoi picked a total of 12 wickets and showed the world that he is a genuine wicket-taker in the middle order. He grew stronger in stature working closely with legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who is also the head coach of Kings XI Punjab.
The highest wicket-taker for India in the last U-19 World Cup, Bishnoi will be playing for Rajasthan in SMAT and every batsman will have their task cut out when he has the ball in his hands.
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2. Ishan Kishan
The pocket-sized dynamo from Jharkhand stood out in IPL 2020 impressing one and all with his consistency and hitting abilities. He ended the season as the leading run-getter of defending champions Mumbai Indians. Ishan Kishan has immensely improved his power-hitting against genuine pace which is why he has consistently scored at a strike rate of around 150.
The youngster is also a gun fielder in the boundary when he is not keeping the wickets. Kishan will be leading the Jharkhand side in SMAT and is expected to lead from the front and make the headlines.
A good season for Kishan will take him closer to team India selection in the shortest format with the ICC T20 World Cup lined in the country in a few month’s time.
Also Read: Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan Could Feature Against England – Aakash Chopra
1. Suryakumar Yadav
At number 1, it is the ever-improving and irresistible Suryakumar Yadav. The 30-year-old batted like a dream in IPL 2020 and played a critical role in MI’s trophy-winning season. Suryakumar was explosive against all kinds of bowlers and single-handedly took his side past the finishing line.
It is just a matter of time before he gets in the India T20I squad and SMAT 2020 will be another stage for him to showcase his exploits. Suryakumar will be captaining Mumbai in SMAT this year and he will be the dangermen for every opposition side in the tournament. Another successful season with the bat in T20 cricket will surely see him playing the T20I series against England in March.
More players that can create an impact for their respective sides are Devdutt Paddikkal, Sai Kishore, Jaydev Unadkat.
Also Read: Mumbai Name Squad For Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy; Suryakumar Yadav To Lead