Under brother Krunal’s captaincy, Hardik Pandya to play Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya will return to domestic cricket, representing Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024 under the captaincy of his elder brother, Krunal Pandya. The tournament begins on November 23, just a day before the IPL 2024 mega auction in Jeddah. This marks Hardik’s first appearance for Baroda in SMAT since 2016, when he played a crucial role in their final against Uttar Pradesh, shortly before making his T20I debut for India.
Hardik has been absent from domestic cricket due to international commitments and injuries. However, a recent BCCI mandate requires centrally contracted players to participate in domestic tournaments when available, leading to his inclusion in Baroda’s squad. His return is expected to strengthen Baroda’s campaign in Group B, which includes strong teams like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, as well as Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Tripura.
Baroda, led by Krunal, had a successful SMAT 2023 campaign, reaching the final before losing to Punjab. Hardik’s presence adds much-needed firepower as the team aims for domestic success. The Pandya brothers’ reunion on the field will be a major highlight for fans as Baroda looks to build on its strong domestic season, having topped Group A in the Ranji Trophy’s first phase.