Jharkhand scripted history by winning their first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, defeating Haryana by 69 runs in a one-sided final at Pune. The star of the night was Ishan Kishan, whose breathtaking 49-ball 101 not only powered Jharkhand to a record-breaking total but also reignited discussions around his return to India’s T20I setup. Jharkhand’s 262 for 3 became the highest score ever posted in a T20 tournament final, underlining the sheer dominance of their batting performance.
Asked to bat first, Jharkhand lost Virat Singh early, but that dismissal only set the stage for carnage. Kishan and Kumar Kushagra put together a sensational 177-run second-wicket partnership, completely dismantling Haryana’s bowling attack. Kishan was ruthless in the powerplay, hammering six sixes in the first six overs as Jharkhand raced to 69 for 1. Kushagra complemented him perfectly, racing to a 38-ball 81 with elegant strokeplay and fearless intent.
Haryana’s bowlers struggled to find answers, even after turning to spin early. Amit Rana, who had starred in the semi-final, endured a tough outing, conceding 48 runs in three overs. Kishan brought up his century in just 47 balls before falling soon after, with Kushagra dismissed only five balls later. Any hopes of a slowdown were quickly dashed as Anukul Roy and Robin Minz finished the innings in style, adding 75 runs off the final 29 balls. Jharkhand ended on an imposing 262 for 3, fuelled by 20 sixes in total.
Haryana Falter in Chase Despite Brief Resistance from Yashvardhan Dalal
Chasing an intimidating target, Haryana were rocked early, losing three wickets inside the powerplay. However, Yashvardhan Dalal provided a brief spark with a stunning 19-ball half-century, using his reach and timing to counterattack. Nishant Sindhu supported him with a fluent 31, and for a moment, Haryana’s hopes flickered.
Those hopes faded quickly once both batters were dismissed, leaving Haryana at 104 for 5 midway through the innings. Jharkhand’s bowlers then tightened the screws, with left-arm seamer Sushant Mishra impressing through hard lengths to finish with figures of 3 for 27. Anukul Roy’s left-arm spin proved effective as well, benefiting from minimal dew due to the early start.
Haryana were eventually bowled out for 193 in the penultimate over, sealing a comprehensive 69-run victory for Jharkhand. The final wicket, taken by Bal Krishna, sparked wild celebrations as Jharkhand players and fans celebrated a landmark achievement.
Beyond the trophy, the final served as a powerful statement from Ishan Kishan. Finishing the tournament as the leading run-scorer and top six-hitter, and capping it with a match-winning century, Kishan couldn’t have chosen a better stage to remind everyone of his explosive T20 credentials.
