Ishan Kishan’s Match-Winning Century
jeetbuzz affiliate Ishan Kishan starred with a brutal century as Jharkhand outclassed Haryana in the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025. Showing glimpses of his brilliance throughout the tournament, he saved his best for the big occasion. Leading from the front with a breathtaking 101 off 49 balls, Kishan dominated the Haryana bowlers and guided Jharkhand to its maiden title with a commanding 69-run victory. In front of a packed MCA Stadium, he thrilled fans with aggressive strokeplay, hitting the bowlers all around the park.
Despite losing opener Virat Singh early, Kishan ensured Jharkhand stayed on track. Making full use of a flat pitch, he put the Haryana attack under pressure from the outset and stitched together a massive 177-run partnership with young Kumar Kushagra, who scored 81 off 38 balls. The duo went hard in the Powerplay, collecting boundaries and sixes freely as Jharkhand raced to 69 runs and eventually posted a formidable 262 for three.
Record-Breaking Batting Display
With national selectors in attendance, Kishan shifted gears effortlessly. He took on Parth Vats and Anshul Kamboj, striking boundaries and a memorable one-handed six to bring up his century, becoming only the second batter to score a hundred in an SMAT final. Although he was dismissed soon after, and Kushagra followed, Jharkhand was already well past the danger zone.
Haryana’s sloppy fielding further helped Jharkhand’s cause. Anukul Roy, later named Player of the Series, and Robin Minz added an unbeaten 75-run stand to push the total to the highest ever in an SMAT final, leaving Haryana with an almost impossible chase.
Haryana’s Collapse and a Historic Triumph
Chasing a mammoth target, Haryana never found momentum. Ankit Kumar was dismissed for a duck early, and Ashish Siwach followed without scoring. Wickets kept falling in clusters, and although Nishant Sindhu and Yashvardhan Dalal put on a brief 67-run partnership, Anukul Roy removed both to extinguish any remaining hopes.
The night ultimately belonged to Ishan Kishan. Out of India contention since 2023, the wicketkeeper-batter finished the tournament with 517 runs and was visibly emotional as Jharkhand celebrated its historic first title. Joined by former cricketers and current administrators Saurabh Tiwary and Shahbaz Nadeem, the team soaked in the moment. After years of struggle, Jharkhand finally broke its title jinx, and Kishan delivered a timely reminder to the national selectors ahead of the T20 World Cup squad meeting.
