SMAT 2025-26 Round 3 Wrap: Belligerent Abhishek breaks records, Samson finds form for Kerala

SMAT 2025-26 Round 3 Highlights

The third round of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 brought a mix of dominant displays and redemption stories, with star Indian players showing strong performances across venues.

Abhishek Sharma’s Record-Breaking Knock

Abhishek Sharma lit up the round with an explosive innings, rewriting records for Punjab. His aggressive batting dismantled opposition attacks, reaffirming his reputation as one of domestic cricket’s most dangerous strikers. His century came off just a handful of deliveries, placing him among the fastest in the tournament’s history.

“Abhishek’s intent was clear from the first ball. He looked unstoppable,” said a team official after the match.

Samson Finds Form for Kerala

Sanju Samson finally found rhythm after a slow start to the season. His composed half-century guided Kerala to a convincing win. Balancing timing with aggression, Samson anchored the innings and showed glimpses of the form that made him a national team mainstay.

Suryakumar Yadav’s Consistency

Suryakumar Yadav continued his steady run with another fluently constructed knock. Despite not converting it into a huge score, his quick runs in the middle order helped Mumbai maintain momentum and build confidence ahead of the next round.

Notable Performances

Rinku Singh (Uttar Pradesh): Played a brisk cameo that helped seal a high-scoring chase.
Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore (Tamil Nadu): Controlled the game with tight spin, picking up key wickets.
Tilak Varma (Hyderabad): Anchored the innings under pressure, showing growing maturity.
Shivam Dube (Mumbai): Exploited the short boundaries to club multiple sixes late in the innings.

Standout Bowling Spells

Several pacers dominated with the new ball, including Vidwath Kaverappa and Mukesh Kumar, who both extracted movement early and stifled chasing sides. In spin-friendly conditions, Rahul Chahar and Sai Kishore proved decisive with economical spells that turned matches.

Tournament Outlook

With multiple established players performing well, the SMAT 2025-26 is shaping into a showcase of both talent and competition. State sides are finding rhythm, and selectors will be keeping close watch on form as the domestic season progresses.

Author’s Summary:
Round 3 of SMAT 2025-26 saw Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking century and Sanju Samson’s return to form, highlighting both aggression and composure in domestic T20 competition.

Sportstar — 2025-11-30