5 players who could define the Mumbai vs Madhya Pradesh SMAT 2024-25 final ft. Venkatesh Iyer
Mumbai will take on Madhya Pradesh in the final of the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, December 15. Mumbai beat Baroda by six wickets in the first semifinal of SMAT 2024-25 in Bengaluru, while Madhya Pradesh hammered Delhi by seven wickets in the second semifinal at the same venue.
Bowling first after winning the toss in the first semifinal, Mumbai restricted Baroda to 158-7 as their bowlers shared the spoils. In the chase, Mumbai cruised home in 17.2 overs, confirming their place in the summit clash of SMAT 2024-25. In the second semifinal, MP won the toss and bowled first. They did a good job to restrict Delhi to 146-5 and chased the total in 15.4 overs.
As Mumbai and Madhya Pradesh prepare to face each other on Sunday in Bengaluru, we look at five players who could define the SMAT 2024-25 final.
#1 Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane has been in exceptional form for Mumbai in SMAT 2024-25. He is the leading run-getter in the T20 competition by some distance. In seven innings, he has hammered 432 runs at an average of 61.71 and a strike rate of 169.41. After a disappointing IPL 2024 campaign, Rahane seems to have reinvented himself as a T20 batter.
The 36-year-old has five half-centuries to his name in the tournament. He scored 68 off 35 against Kerala in a losing cause. In Mumbai's last three matches in SMAT 2024-25, Rahane has registered scores of 95 (off 54 balls), 84 (off 48 balls) and 98 off 56 balls). The batter has been scintillating with the willow and has slammed a total of 42 fours and 19 sixes.
#2 Venkatesh Iyer
Madhya Pradesh might need a big effort from batting all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer if they are to get the better of Mumbai in SMAT 2024-25 final. The left-handed batter has scored 210 runs in eight innings at an average of 161.53, with the aid of 17 fours and 10 sixes. With his medium pace bowling, Iyer has also picked up some crucial wickets, including two in the semifinal against Delhi.
While the southpaw has not got big scores, he has constantly chipped in with crucial cameos. The 29-year-old was Player of the Match for smashing 27* off 15 and picking up one wicket in the match against Bihar. He was the Player of the Match for his all-round effort in the quarterfinal against Saurashtra as well. Iyer picked up 2-23 with the ball and scored 38* off 33 in a chase of 174.
#3 Suryakumar Yadav
T20 superstar Suryakumar Yadav has been dismissed for single-figure scores in Mumbai's last three matches in SMAT 2024-25. The dashing right-handed batter was out for four against Andhra, made nine in the quarterfinal against Vidarbha and perished for one off seven in the semifinal against Baroda.
Suryakumar did impress with 70 off 46 in the match against Services, a typically aggressive knock that featured seven fours and four sixes. The 34-year-old has gone off the boil after that. However, Suryakumar is a quality player and Mumbai will expect him to lift his game in the final against Madhya Pradesh.
#4 Rajat Patidar
Skipper Rajat Patidar has led from the front for MP in SMAT 2024-25. Heading into the final against Mumbai, he is the third-leading run-getter in the competition. In eight innings, he has hammered 347 runs at an average of 49.57 and an excellent strike rate of 182.63, with four half-centuries to his credit.
Patidar was Player of the Match in the semifinal against Delhi for his blazing 66* off 29 balls. He clubbed four fours and six sixes as MP chased down 148 in 15.4 overs to cruise into the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The 31-year-old also notched up half-centuries in successive matches against Meghalaya, Punjab and Bengal apart from playing a couple of other good cameos.
#5 Suryansh Shedge
Mumbai all-rounder Suryansh Shedge could be the dark horse in the 2024-25 SMAT final. He has made some handy contributions for the team with both bat and ball in recent matches of the tournament.
Shedge clobbered an unbeaten 30 off eight against Andhra, hammering two fours and three sixes. In the quarterfinal against Vidarbha, he slapped 36* off only 12 balls, a whirlwind knock that included four sixes. The 21-year-old has also chipped in with two wickets each in the last two games.