The Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) has announced an impressive and balanced squad for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025–26, marking a major developmental breakthrough for Jharkhand cricket. The selectors have appointed the vibrant wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan as captain, giving the team both experience and explosive batting firepower. They have also included several popular IPL players such as Kumar Kushagra, Robin Minz, and Anukul Roy, which makes Jharkhand one of the teams to watch this season.
The JSCA has announced the team earlier this week and Kishan is about to lead a good group of young and experienced players. The credentials of Kishan are not unfamiliar and he has played 206 T20 matches. He has already featured in different IPL teams such as the Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Lions, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, and has performed remarkably at the highest levels of the franchise cricketing business.
Ishan Kishan is a highly volatile top-order batsman who has already amassed 5,270 T20 runs at a strike rate of 134.20. His recent form has also been promising. Although he struggled in the first India A vs South Africa A ODI, he responded with a fluent half-century in the series finale at the Niranjan Shah Cricket Stadium in Rajkot. When Jharkhand aims for a winning campaign, his experience and attacking approach will play a crucial role in their plans.
In addition to their captain, Jharkhand boasts several other prominent match-winners. Kushagra and Minz strike cleanly and can shift the momentum within minutes, making them ideal for the shortest format. With his reliable left-arm rotation and handy lower-order batting, Anukul brings balance to the team.
Jharkhand competes in Elite Group D, a highly competitive pool that includes Delhi, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Saurashtra, and Tripura. The team will open its season against Delhi on November 26, and the players hope to begin their campaign on a strong note.
SMAT 2025-26: Jharkhand squad: Ishan Kishan (C/WK), Utkarsh Singh, Virat Singh, Kumar Kushagra (WK/VC), Robin Minz, Anukul Roy, Pankaj Kumar, Bala Krishna, Md Kounain Qureshi, Shubh Sharma, Amit Kumar, Manishi, Sushant Mishra, Vikas Singh, Saurabh Shekhar, Rajandeep Singh
