On December 18, 2025, Ishan Kishan Gave a career-defining performance, scoring a sensational century in 45 balls to lead Jharkhand to its first win. Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) Topic. Captaining his team at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, the left-handed batsman relentlessly attacked the Haryana bowlers and turned a shaky start into a historic win.
after losing the opener Virat Singh In the first over, Kishan combined power with tactical accuracy to play a record-breaking innings. Their performance, which culminated in a mammoth team total of 262/3, not only secured the silver medal for Jharkhand but also served as a powerful statement of intent from the national selectors as India prepare for their next international cycle.
Kishan-Kumar Kushagra massacre for Haryana in SMAT 2025 final: A record-breaking stand
The centerpiece of Jharkhand’s historic victory was the brilliant partnership of 177 runs for the second wicket between Ishan Kishan and the young wicketkeeper-batsman. Kumar KushgraThis stand set a new record as the highest ever partnership in the history of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final, completely dismantling Haryana’s bowling attack after early success,
While Kishan was the primary aggressor, completing his half-century in just 24 balls, Kushagra provided tremendous support by scoring 81 runs in 38 balls including 8 fours and 5 sixes. Their chemistry was impeccable; They rotated the strike with clinical efficiency before collectively smashing 20 sixes, leaving the fielders as mere spectators. By the time the partnership broke in the 15th over, Jharkhand had crossed the 180-run mark, laying the foundation for the highest score ever in the final of a T20 tournament globally.
Ishan Kishan’s masterclass in SMAT 2025 final against Haryana
Kishan’s innings was a masterclass in aggressive boundary-hitting, as he scored 101 runs off just 49 balls at an impressive average of 206.12. His innings was highlighted by 10 sky-scraping sixes, the most ever by a single batsman in a SMAT final, and 6 fours, including a hand-smashed six over extra cover to reach his milestone.
This was Kishan’s second century of the 2025 campaign after his 113* against Tripura, making him the leading run-scorer of the tournament with a total of 517 runs at an average of 57.44. Jharkhand’s final score of 262/3 became the fifth highest score in SMAT history and was further strengthened by the late results. Anukul Roy (20 out of 40*) and robin minz (14 out of 31*). Haryana bowlers faced difficulty in the afternoon -Anshul Kamboj And Sumit Kumar Both gave more than 40 runs in their respective spells and Jharkhand’s batsmen targeted every inch of the Pune ground.
Jharkhand’s first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title
The win marks Jharkhand’s second senior domestic title and their first in the T20 format, adding a historic chapter to the state’s cricketing legacy. Despite Haryana’s spirited counter-attack Yashvardhan DalalHaving scored a blistering 53 off 22 balls, the target proved impossible as they were bowled out for 193 in 18.3 overs.
Jharkhand bowlers led the way Sushant Mishra (3/27) and Anukul (2/42) maintained discipline under pressure to seal a comprehensive 69-run win. For Kishan, this trophy serves as the perfect conclusion to a redemption season after his prolonged absence from the national team. Finishing the tournament with the most number of sixes (32) and most runs, he has returned to the limelight at the same time as India prepare for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Here’s how fans reacted:
After 19 years – SMAT has a new champion.
Undefeated. Invincible – posting the highest score in the history of the format in the final – Jharkhand have earned it under the leadership of Ishan Kishan and his teammates!
Special mention to Haryana, who also had a fantastic season 🙌 pic.twitter.com/VSTGmwkeMg
– Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) 18 December 2025
Very happy for the players and support staff of Jharkhand. Conquering the world is all that matters to them #SMATWhich clearly shows that talented cricketers are not just in the North or the South, Look in different states and you will find a lot, Congratulations to my friend Saurabh Tiwari and…
-Shrivatsa Goswami (@Shrivatsa1) 18 December 2025
Batting ✅
Keeping ✅
Leadership ✅Congratulations to Ishan Kishan. He led Jharkhand to win SMAT for the first time.
– Bhawana (@cricbhawana) 18 December 2025
Cricket Knowledge: Great to see Jharkhand winning the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The most dramatic change in Indian cricket over the last 20 years has been the move away from the dominance of the big cities. The revolution started with MSD (sadly he has barely played for his home state) and now…
– Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) 18 December 2025
What. it. Meaning.
[Ishan Kishan | Play With Fire | SMAT] pic.twitter.com/u6vP9vXAEz
– Sunrisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) 18 December 2025
Jharkhand is the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy champion pic.twitter.com/GbJvBAvNSu
– RCBIAN Official (@RcbianOfficial) 18 December 2025
Jharkhand’s performance under the leadership of Ishan Kishan has been incredible this year. Great game on the biggest day. Qualified SMAT Champion pic.twitter.com/apqQBdHwhb
– Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) 18 December 2025
Congratulations to our motherland #SMAT Champion with Jharkhand! pic.twitter.com/1XW8hajQas
– Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) 18 December 2025
Ishan Kishan has slayed this SMAT by scoring a century in the final.
He finished the season with 517 runs at 57.44 and SR of 197.32. pic.twitter.com/LmxNCuXsgV
-Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) 18 December 2025
Under the leadership of Ishan Kishan, Jharkhand has been crowned the champions of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025.#ishaankishan #SyedMushtaqAliTrophy #SMAT2025 pic.twitter.com/h0RptWzU9y
– CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) 19 December 2025
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