Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final: Haryana, Jharkhand seek maiden title
What's the story
The grand finale of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 season is set to take place on Thursday. The match will be played at the MCA Stadium, Pune, with Jharkhand and Haryana vying for their first-ever title. Both teams have shown exceptional skill and determination throughout the tournament, making this final a highly anticipated clash. Here are the details.
Journey to finals
Jharkhand's unbeaten run and Haryana's comeback
Jharkhand had an unbeaten run in Elite Group D, winning all of their 7 matches. In the Super League stage, they won their first two matches before losing to Andhra. They topped Group B with a strong net run rate (NRR) of +0.221. Meanwhile, Haryana's journey has been more challenging. After losing two matches in the group stage and another one against Mumbai in the Super League, they made a strong comeback by defeating Hyderabad to secure their place in the final.
Star performers
Key players to watch out for
Haryana's captain Ankit Kumar has been a standout performer with the bat, scoring 448 runs in 10 innings. He will be crucial to Haryana's strategy of attacking during the PowerPlay. Meanwhile, Jharkhand will rely on Virat Singh and Ishan Kishan to make the most of their batting opportunities. Singh returned to form in their last match while Kishan has been instrumental throughout this tournament.
Match dynamics
Toss and pitch conditions could be crucial
Dew is expected to play a key role in the final, making the toss even more important. Haryana will hope their pacers Anshul Kamboj and Ishant Bhardwaj can strike early. A good start could allow them to bring off-spinner Amit Rana into play. On a flat deck, Jharkhand will rely on Vikash Singh and Sushant Mishra to keep things under control and clinch their maiden title.
Stats
Player focus: Here are the stats
As mentioned, Ankit has 448 runs under his belt from 10 innings. He is this season's top scorer and averages 49.77 with 5 fifties under his belt. Jharkhand skipper Kishan is next with 416 runs from 9 matches at 52. His strike rate of 195.30 could floor Haryana. He owns one hundred and 2 fifties. Among bowlers, Anshul Kamboj owns 20 wickets for Haryana at 16. Jharkhand's Sushant Mishra has claimed 19 wickets at 18.47.