Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is India’s premier domestic T20 tournament, captivating cricket fans since its inception in 2006. Featuring 38 teams from across the country, this annual event showcases thrilling cricketing action and rising talents and has long been a breeding ground for future stars contributing to India’s cricketing depth. As the Elite division continues to set the benchmark for high‑intensity T20 cricket, the competition remains a favourite among fans and scouts alike.
In the most recent 2025-2026 edition, played between November 26th 2025 and December 18th 2025, Jharkhand lifted their maiden Elite title after a commanding 69‑run win over Haryana at the MCA Cricket Stadium in Gahunje, Pune. Led by Ishan Kishan’s century and a dominant all‑round performance, Jharkhand’s victory marked one of the standout moments in the tournament’s modern era.
In the Plate division, played until December 6th, 2025, Mizoram emerged as champions, underlining the growing competitiveness and depth across India’s domestic structure.
Introduction
India’s premier domestic T20 competition, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, brings together state teams in a fast, high‑intensity format that consistently produces standout performances. Known for its quick shifts in momentum and the platform it offers to both emerging and established players, the tournament has become a favourite among fans who enjoy analysing form, matchups, and the overall rhythm of India’s regional cricket scene.
Its unpredictability is a major part of its appeal. T20 cricket naturally rewards boldness, and the tournament’s history is filled with seasons where lesser‑known teams surged, future stars announced themselves, and established sides were pushed into tight contests. Over the years, the event has also evolved structurally, introducing features such as the Elite and Plate divisions and later the Super League stage, all designed to create more balanced competition and clearer pathways for rising teams.
The cultural impact of the tournament remains significant, with regional pride driving passionate support across the country. Rivalries, home‑ground atmospheres, and the sheer pace of the format make it one of the most engaging events in the domestic calendar. The inclusion of all 38 Ranji teams in past editions, along with format refinements and memorable champions, has helped shape a competition that continues to grow in relevance and intensity.
You’ll also find an integrated version in Hindi (सैयद मुश्ताक अली ट्रॉफी हिंदी समीक्षा) within the same narrative, where you can explore group-stage dynamics, standout stats like Mumbai’s recent triumph and player form trends - insights that elevate your ability to bet on Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy India with sharper awareness and enhance your Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy cricket betting India edge at IndiaBetMaster.com.
Best Online Betting Sites in India - June 2026





Current Season
The 2026-2027 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy arrives at a lively moment for Indian domestic cricket, running from 14 November 2026 to 16 December 2026. The Elite competition will stretch through the full window, while the Plate division will conclude earlier (on November 24th, 2026), following the same two‑tier system that the BCCI introduced last season. The tournament retains the Super League format that made the previous edition more competitive and predictable for fans tracking match odds and prediction angles. With the Elite league stage spread across Mumbai, Vizag, New Chandigarh, and Kolkata, and the playoffs shifting to Nagpur, the event promises a strong mix of traditional cricketing culture and modern T20 energy.
The BCCI has confirmed that the Super League structure continues unchanged, a decision driven by its success in 2025-2026, where it rewarded consistency rather than one‑off knockout bursts. Under this system, the top two teams from each of the four Elite groups advance to the Super League, split into two groups of four, with the group toppers meeting directly in the final. This format, verified again for 2026-2027, ensures that bettors and analysts get a clearer read on team form across multiple high‑pressure games. The Plate competition, hosted entirely in Dimapur, will again feature six teams, with promotion for the winner and relegation for the bottom Elite side.
The venue distribution this season adds a fresh cultural layer. Mumbai and Kolkata bring established crowds and familiar atmospheres, while Vizag and New Chandigarh offer contrasting flavours: coastal enthusiasm on one side and a newer, fast‑growing cricket base on the other. Nagpur hosting the playoffs is a notable shift, as the city’s newer stadium infrastructure and strong central‑India fan presence have consistently delivered high‑energy T20 evenings. Plate matches in Dimapur continue the BCCI’s push to strengthen cricket in the Northeast, a region that has shown steady growth in participation and attendance over the past few seasons.
The tournament remains one of India’s most valuable domestic T20 properties. Based on earlier editions, the structure has historically aligned with other men’s domestic white‑ball events, where elite players can expect match fees in the same bracket as the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The Super League format has strengthened broadcaster interest, with digital platforms continuing to push short‑form highlights and live‑clip engagement, a trend that grew sharply during the previous edition.
The scheduling window also positions SMAT as the first major white‑ball event of the domestic year after the Duleep Trophy and the early Ranji Trophy rounds. This timing matters because IPL scouts traditionally use SMAT as the earliest indicator of emerging T20 talent. With 38 teams participating across Elite and Plate divisions, the tournament remains a massive scouting ground, and performances here often influence auction dynamics. Tamil Nadu still hold the record for most titles, while Jharkhand enter the season as defending champions after their 2025-2026 triumph.
With a stable format, a balanced venue mix, and a clear pathway between Plate and Elite divisions, the 2026-2027 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is set up to deliver another month of sharp, high‑tempo cricket. The combination of competitive structure and cultural variety across host cities gives this edition a strong narrative even before the first ball is bowled. For fans, analysts, and bettors alike, the tournament remains one of the most reliable indicators of India’s next wave of T20 performers.
Previous Seasons
Past Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Editions
- 2025-2026 Season
The 2025-2026 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, played from 26 November to 18 December 2025, delivered one of the most dynamic seasons in the tournament’s history. It was the first edition to use the new two‑tier system with a dedicated Plate division and a Super League stage for the Elite teams. After the league phase, the top two sides from each Elite group advanced to the Super League, which determined the finalists. Jharkhand claimed the Elite title, defeating Haryana by 69 runs in the final at the MCA Stadium in Pune, a match defined by Jharkhand’s imposing first‑innings total that set the tone early. In the Plate division, Mizoram emerged champions, completing a landmark campaign for a developing cricket region and securing promotion for the following season. These results shaped much of the early betting interest and prediction chatter around domestic T20 talent heading into the next cycle.
The season’s structure and scheduling were widely praised for creating more meaningful contests and reducing the volatility often associated with knockout‑only formats. Elite matches were hosted across major centres including Lucknow, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Indore, while all Plate fixtures were held in Pune. Attendance rose noticeably during the Super League and knockout rounds. Digital viewership also grew, with short‑form clips and live streams gaining strong traction across platforms. The combination of competitive balance, rising young talent, and a format that rewarded consistency made the 2025-2026 edition a standout chapter in the event’s modern era.
- 2024-2025 Season
In the 2024-2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy season, there were stories of recovery and success. In the exciting final, Mumbai, led by captain Shreyas Iyer, won their second title. They beat Madhya Pradesh in a high-scoring game in the final at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Even though Mumbai's teamwork was the best, each player also did a great job. Ajinkya Rahane of Mumbai scored the most runs in the event, and his steady play earned him the Player of the Series award. On the bowling front, Jagjit Singh of Chandigarh took the most wickets, showing how talented all of the state teams are.
The 2024-2025 event was set up differently from the one that will happen next season. The 38 teams were split into five groups, with three groups having eight teams and two groups having seven. Each group played the other four times. There were preliminary quarter-finals, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final in the playoff stage. People liked this format because it gave teams lots of chances to fight and showed off a lot of different kinds of abilities. But it also caused some differences, as some teams had a harder time getting to the round of 16. Baroda's amazing hitting performance was one of the season's main stories. They set a new record by getting 349 runs in 5 overs, which shows how fast-paced modern T20 cricket is. The performance of young Tilak Varma, who got an amazing 151, was another event that stood out. It showed why the game is known for producing future stars.
The 2024-2025 season changed the Indian cricket scene in a big way. National officials and IPL scouts were impressed by the acts of young and up-and-coming players, which directly affected the teams that would play in future events. A lot of traditional and digital media covered the game, keeping fans interested with live scores and expert analysis. The big crowds at the knockout rounds, especially in Bengaluru, showed how popular and important the event is to the culture. The event's popularity also led to a lot more marketing and advertising deals, which made it even more financially stable and prestigious. A big topic was the BCCI's political role in setting up the event and how it changed the domestic cricket schedule. This was because the board kept improving the model to make sure that all state teams could play fairly and grow. If you're looking for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy betting tips India for the next season, the lessons you learned last season, especially how certain players and teams did, are like gold.
In India, the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy had a big effect on the growth of local T20 cricket. It was a great chance for young bowlers to show what they could do, and as a result, several players got into the Indian Premier League (IPL). More news stories were written about the competition, and both fans and sponsors paid a lot of attention to it. In terms of politics, the event continues to show regional pride as state teams compete to show that they are the best on a national level. The tournament's success has brought better marketing deals and more attention to the players, which is good for the whole local cricket ecosystem.
- Earlier Seasons
The sixteenth Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, an annual Twenty20 competition held in India, was held in 2023-2024. It was contested by all 38 Ranji Trophy teams and played from October 16, 2023, to November 6, 2023. Punjab won their first title. They won by twenty runs over Baroda in the final. There were five groups out of the 38 senior state teams, consisting of eight teams in three groups and seven teams in two. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed in April 2023 that the competition was a part of the Indian domestic cricket season for 2023-2024. Mumbai held the title of previous champions. In the quarterfinals, they were eliminated.
In the 2023 season of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, 38 teams participated in it. All teams were divided into five Elite groups, namely A, B, C, D, and E. Every team played their matches and out of 38, only 4 teams qualified for the semi-finals. The qualified teams were Delhi, Punjab, Baroda, and Assam. Two exciting matches were played in the 2023 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy semifinals on November 4, 2023, at Mohali's Inderjit Singh Bindra Stadium.
Delhi took on Punjab in the first semifinal. After batting first, Delhi reached 183/7 in 20 overs. Delhi's best player, Ayush Badoni, scored 80 runs off of 57 balls. The standout bowler for Punjab was Siddarth Kaul, who claimed three wickets for 27 runs in just four overs. Punjab responded by well chasing the score and reaching 184/4 in 18.4 overs. With 77 runs off 45 balls, Abhishek Sharma had a huge innings for Punjab, and Mayank Yadav stepped in with the ball, taking two wickets for 28 runs in his four overs. The game was won by Punjab by six wickets.
Assam was up against Baroda in the second semi-final. In their 20 overs, Baroda, batting first, scored 142 runs. Baroda's highest scorer with 48 runs off 41 balls was Rishav Das. Baroda's star bowler, Abhimanyusingh Rajput, took four wickets for 29 runs in his four overs. Assam achieved 146/4 in 16.1 overs as they pursued the target. Assam's highest scorer, Ninad Rathva, scored 44 runs off of 26 balls. Assam's standout bowler, Akash Sengupta, claimed two wickets for 32 runs in 3.1 overs. The game was won by Baroda by six wickets.
November 6, 2023, saw the 2023 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final between Punjab and Baroda take place at the Inderjit Singh Bindra Stadium in Mohali. It was an exciting match. Punjab took the bat first and scored a massive 223/4 in their 20 overs. Anmolpreet Singh struck 113 runs off 61 balls, a superb century that was the high point of Punjab's innings. The most economical bowler for Baroda was Krunal Pandya, who claimed one wicket for thirty runs in his four overs.
Baroda responded by scoring 203/7 in their 20 overs. Abhimanyu Singh Rajput scored the most runs for Baroda, scoring 61 off 42 balls in a flash. Punjab's star bowler, Arshdeep Singh, took four wickets for twenty-three runs in his four overs. The match was won by Punjab by a margin of 20 runs.
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Final Result | Event / Final Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 | Jharkhand | Haryana | Jharkhand won by 69 runs | MCA Cricket Stadium, Gahunje, Pune |
| 2024-2025 | Mumbai | Madhya Pradesh | Mumbai won by 5 wickets | M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 2023-2024 | Punjab | Baroda | Punjab won by 20 runs | Inderjit Singh Bindra Stadium, Mohali |
| 2022-2023 | Mumbai | Himachal Pradesh | Mumbai won by 3 wickets | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 2021-2022 | Tamil Nadu | Karnataka | Tamil Nadu won by 4 wickets | Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi |
| 2020-2021 | Tamil Nadu | Baroda | Tamil Nadu won by 7 wickets | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| 2019-2020 | Karnataka | Tamil Nadu | Karnataka won by 1 run | Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, Surat |
| 2018-2019 | Karnataka | Maharashtra | Karnataka won by 8 wickets | Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore |
| 2017-2018 | Delhi | Rajasthan | Delhi won by 41 runs | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 2016-2017 | East Zone | Central Zone | East Zone finished first on points table; no final played | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| 2015-2016 | Uttar Pradesh | Baroda | Uttar Pradesh won by 38 runs | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| 2014-2015 | Gujarat | Punjab | Gujarat won by 2 wickets | KIIT Cricket Stadium, Bhubaneshwar |
| 2013-2014 | Baroda | Uttar Pradesh | Baroda won by 3 runs | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| 2012-2013 | Gujarat | Punjab | Gujarat won by 6 wickets | Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore |
| 2011-2012 | Baroda | Punjab | Baroda won by 8 runs | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai |
| 2010-2011 | Bengal | Madhya Pradesh | Bengal won by 1 run | Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad |
| 2009-2010 | Maharashtra | Hyderabad | Maharashtra won by 19 runs | Maharani Usharaje Trust Cricket Ground, Indore |
| 2006-2007 | Tamil Nadu | Punjab | Tamil Nadu won by 2 wickets | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai |
* The 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 editions were not featured in the BCCI domestic calendar
History and Structure
The Inter-State T20 Championship was the original name of the BCCI's main domestic T-20 event, which was changed and reintroduced as the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. It consisted of 27 Ranji teams divided into five Zones. In the first SMAT Trophy, Rohit Sharma recorded the first T20 century by an Indian while chasing a total of 140+ vs Gujarat. He did it for Mumbai in the very next game after scoring 40+ not out in the previous game.
Each Zone's champion and runner-up advance to the elimination round. The knockout phase was replaced by a Super League in the 2012-2013 season, where the champions and runners-up from each Zone are divided into 2 groups while the winner advances to the final as well. The BCCI stated in June 2016 that a zonal-based tournament would take the place of the championship. The BCCI returned to including all domestic teams the very next season.
The zonal system was eliminated after nine additional clubs were added to the domestic league for the 2018-2019 season, and teams are now split into five (5) groups with the champions and runners-up advancing to the Super League. The Super League group winners compete in the Final after the 10 clubs are split into two groups.
The Twenty20 cricket competition (also known as Twenty-20 or T20) was first played in 2003 to establish a quick-paced style of cricket. In a Twenty20 cricket match, each of the two competing teams is allowed a single inning with a maximum of 20 overs. This means that a normal match lasts around three hours, with an interval of ten minutes between each inning of roughly ninety minutes. The ICC recognizes First-class and List-A cricket as the two highest domestic or international forms of cricket, although Twenty20 cricket is considered one of the tops despite being a very brief game.
The inter-state T20 championship, which was played by the 27 teams competing in the Ranji Trophy competition using the state format introduced that year, was first given by the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) two years before to the tournament's 2008-2009 debut. The BCCI decided to increase the number of teams competing in the Ranji Trophy event to 38 for the 15th edition of the trophy (the 2022-2023 season) thus affecting Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Yet there was no real change in the organization. Five groups made up of all the teams, three of which have seven teams each, and the other two containing eight teams, are formed. The leading two teams in each group proceed to the next stage, and games within each group are played in a round-robin system (similar to a league where every other team plays against every other team). Each group in the second stage, which consists of two groups of five (5) teams each, was contested like a super league. The winning side from each group advances to the final, where they will face off in a traditional T20 match of Indian cricket.
Final Thoughts
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has grown into one of India’s most influential T20 platforms, shaping careers and sharpening the competitive edge of domestic cricket. During the past season, the tournament has consistently showcased a blend of established performers and breakout talents, supported by evolving formats that keep the cricket fresh and demanding. Whether through high‑scoring finals, disciplined bowling spells, or the rise of new regional contenders, each edition has added depth to the event’s identity and strengthened its role within the wider Indian cricket structure.
What truly defines the competition is its ability to adapt while staying rooted in its purpose: offering a fast, high‑quality stage where state teams compete with intensity and ambition. The introduction of the Plate division, the refinement of the Elite structure, and the steady improvement in scheduling and coverage have all contributed to a more balanced and engaging tournament. With strong crowds, growing digital reach, and a format that rewards consistency, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy continues to stand out as a vital part of India’s domestic calendar, a place where form, confidence, and opportunity intersect in ways that shape the country’s T20 landscape year after year.
Bet on the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
To start placing bets on the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy competition, you must first choose a reputable sports betting website. There are numerous options available today, ranging from top-notch to average, but not every sports betting site accepts wagers for this specific competition. On this page's list of the top cricket betting sites, you will discover secure options.
Create an account, make a deposit, and then go to the cricket betting site once you've chosen the betting site you are interested in. View the various markets, and if one grabs your attention, click it to place a wager. Next, select the wagering amount, and when you're ready, click Submit.
Cricket fans have more betting opportunities than ever because of the intriguing blending of new and classic formats. The timing is important when betting on cricket. You must be up to date on your team's news, the format, the most recent conditions information, and more. To acquire the best odds available for any match, use the cricket odds comparison function on betting sites. As a consequence, you may benefit from the best Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy betting odds that have been compiled from every reputable bookmaker in your country.




















































