The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 has seen exciting performances in its second round of matches, showcasing emerging talents in Indian cricket. Ayush Mhatre shone brightly for Mumbai, hitting an impressive 53-ball 110 against Vidarbha. Mhatre, who recently was named India Under-19 captain for the Asia Cup, anchored the chase as Mumbai successfully chased down 193 runs with 13 deliveries remaining, achieving their second consecutive win of the tournament. His century makes him the youngest player to score centuries across first-class, List-A, and T20 formats, surpassing a record held by Rohit Sharma.
Maharashtra celebrated their first victory, with Prithvi Shaw’s captaincy debut highlighted by a powerful 66 off just 36 deliveries, leading the team to an eight-wicket win over Hyderabad. Arshin Kulkarni also contributed significantly with an unbeaten knock of 89 runs.
Kerala, however, faced a setback against Railways, losing by 32 runs as they struggled to chase down a total of 150. Sanju Samson, who earlier impressed in the tournament, had a disappointing outing, scoring just 19 runs.
The match between Haryana and Punjab was particularly thrilling, ending in a nail-biting Super Over. Haryana triumphed after restricting Punjab's chase, with Yuzvendra Chahal playing a crucial role by taking two vital wickets. In the Super Over, Haryana won decisively by scoring the needed run on their first ball.
In another remarkable showing, Anukul Roy led Jharkhand to victory against Karnataka with a stunning 95 runs, despite minimal support from his teammates. His all-round performance included restricting Karnataka to 157 runs.
Madhya Pradesh found their stride with Venkatesh Iyer scoring an unbeaten 55 in their victory over Bihar, while young talent Vaibhav Suryavanshi struggled to find form in the tournament. Baroda’s Jitesh Sharma did not have the start he hoped for, continuing a rough patch with low scores in his matches.
As the tournament unfolds, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy promises to offer even more thrilling cricket as players vie to make their mark.