Kishan’s Explosive 113* Powers Jharkhand to Commanding Win
Ishan Kishan finally stamped his authority in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025–26 with a scintillating unbeaten century that lit up the Narendra Modi Stadium B Ground in Ahmedabad. Chasing a challenging 183 against Tripura, Jharkhand were struggling at 32/2 inside 4.2 overs before their skipper turned the game on its head with an outrageous display of power-hitting.
Kishan hammered an unbeaten 113 off just 50 balls, smashing 10 fours and 8 sixes, single-handedly dismantling Tripura’s bowling attack. His effort helped Jharkhand cruise home in only 17.3 overs, securing a dominant eight-wicket victory.
He found strong support from Virat Singh, who anchored the partnership with a composed 53 off 40 balls*. Together, the pair stitched a match-winning 153-run stand off just 80 deliveries, taking total control of the chase well before the halfway mark.
After modest returns of 27 and 15 in his first two games, Kishan’s commanding ton sends a timely reminder to national selectors that he remains one of India’s most destructive T20 batters—even if he is currently not in the T20I scheme of things.
Samson Fires for Kerala; Easwaran’s Century Not Enough for Bengal
Kerala skipper Sanju Samson produced his own fireworks against Chhattisgarh, smashing 43 off just 15 balls during a brisk chase of 121. His innings, packed with five towering sixes and two fours, ensured Kerala completed the win in only 10.4 overs. Opening partner Rohan Kunnumal added to the carnage with a quickfire 33 off 17 balls.
Earlier, Kerala’s bowlers set the tone as KM Asif (3/16) and debutant Vignesh Puthur (2/29) restricted Chhattisgarh to 120.
In another one-sided game, Abhimanyu Easwaran’s heroic 130 off 66 balls* for Bengal went in vain. His inning, adorned with 13 fours and eight sixes, pushed Bengal to 198/9 while chasing a massive 311. Punjab’s opener Abhishek Sharma had earlier stolen the show with an extraordinary 148 off 52 balls, setting up an insurmountable total.
Punjab’s bowlers—Harpreet Brar (4/23), Nehal Wadhera (2/19), and Gurnoor Brar (2/40)—then tightened their grip, bundling Bengal out and sealing a huge 112-run victory.
