Shedge’s rise on display as Mumbai clinch Smat title

NT Bengaluru

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy may have provided the perfect platform for the meteoric rise of 21-year-old Suryansh Shedge, as his star-studded Mumbai team comfortably chased down 175 in the final against Madhya Pradesh. Playing in front of over 15,000 spectators at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium under a full moon on Sunday, Mumbai flexed their muscles to clinch their second SMAT title.

For Madhya Pradesh, the search for their maiden title continues. Although Shedge was dropped to No 7 in the batting order, his form remained unaffected. His unbeaten 36 off 15 balls showcased remarkable temperament and a calm approach under pressure, making him a promising prospect for the future. His performances might position him as a strong contender to be a finisher for a new-look Punjab Kings in the IPL.

For the crowd, it was a rare opportunity to witness top-class cricket played by international stars for free truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. When Mumbai won the toss and opted to field first, it seemed they already had one hand on the title. That belief strengthened as MP’s openers, Arpit Gaud (3) and Harsh Gawli (2), fell in quick succession to Shardul Thakur’s fiery opening spell. The slow innings of Harpreet Singh (15 off 23) and Subhranshu Senapati (23 off 17) further compounded MP’s struggles. However, it was Rajat Patidar who took on the responsibility of steadying the ship.

Despite a controversial moment involving Venkatesh Iyer’s dismissal – where the third umpire adjudged him out after a long deliberation on whether the ball had touched the ground before the catch – Patidar soldiered on. Patidar’s classy knock, which saw him strike at a rate of 201, was the highlight of the innings. Every time the crowd chanted “RCB, RCB”, it seemed to fuel his fire. With elegant, perfectly timed shots, he brought MP to a respectable total of 174/8. The third umpire’s decisions were a point of contention. In Thakur’s final spell, a wide ball that was initially called as such was overturned after Mumbai’s review.

However, replays clearly showed the ball had pitched beyond the white line, prompting the third umpire, K N Ananthapadmanabhan, to revert to the original call. It was an evening to forget for the officials. Mumbai’s chase was a mixed bag. While the crowd anticipated quick fireworks from Suryakumar Yadav (48 off 35), Shreyas Iyer (16 off 9), and Ajinkya Rahane (37 off 30), none of them managed to finish the job.

BRIEF SCORES: Mumbai 180/5 in 17.5 ovrs (S Yadav 48, S Shedge 36*, T Singh 2/34) bt. MP : 174/8 in 20 overs (R Patidar 81*, R Dias 2/32) Toss: Mumbai, fielding Player of the match: S Shedge Player of the tournament: A Rahane (469 runs)