India All rounder Hardik Pandya shows why he’s “best all-rounder”, Sanju Samson continues with fine form in SMAT
Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, Hardik Pandya and Sanju Samson showcased their exceptional skills in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Both captains delivered standout performances on Saturday, reinforcing their status as key retentions for their respective teams, Mumbai Indians (MI) and Rajasthan Royals (RR).
Hardik Pandya, the world’s No. 1 T20I all-rounder, began his day with bowling figures of 1/37 against Gujarat before scoring a blistering 74 runs off 35 balls to help MI chase down a target of 185. His innings included six fours and five sixes at an impressive strike rate of over 211.
Similarly, Sanju Samson led Kerala with confidence, scoring 75 runs off 45 balls in a successful chase against Services, following his recent form of three T20I centuries in five matches. Despite some struggles during the chase, his performance was crucial for Kerala’s victory.
Other notable performances included Shreyas Iyer’s explosive 130 runs for Mumbai against Goa and Tilak Varma’s remarkable 151 runs off just 67 balls against Meghalaya. Varma’s innings marked his third consecutive T20 century, further highlighting his rising star status in Indian cricket.