SMAT 2025: Hardik Pandya set for comeback as domestic stars eye IPL Auction spotlight

Hardik Pandya set for comeback in SMAT. (Photo: AFP)

When the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy (SMAT) kicks off across four venues on Wednesday, it will be anticipated that Hardik Pandya will make his eagerly anticipated return from injury. Meanwhile, the potential domestic talent will be looking for impactful performances ahead of the IPL auction.

Since sustaining a quadricep injury at the Asia Cup in September, Hardik has not participated in any competitive cricket matches.

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Hardik would only play the shortest format ahead of the T20 World Cup at home in February and March, and SMAT will serve as a chance for him to demonstrate his fitness prior to the T20 series against South Africa that starts on December 9.

Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, and Lucknow will host the competition. Mumbai, led by Shardul Thakur, will be the reigning champions going into the competition.

Head coach Mukund Parmar anticipates that the star Indian all-rounder will play most of Baroda's seven group games, which begin on Wednesday and last until December 8.

"He has not yet joined the squad but we expect him to play majority of the games. His presence always provides a big boost to the squad," a PTI report quoted Parmar as saying.

India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav is also anticipated to play in the majority of Mumbai's group matches.

In the five-match series against South Africa, SKY, who has struggled for runs over the past 12 months, would be eyeing plenty of runs.

In the group stage, Shivam Dube is also anticipated to represent Mumbai.

Tamil Nadu team captain, mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy, should be available for the group stage and same goes for Sanju Samson, the captain of Kerala.

Previously hailed as the next great thing in Indian cricket, Prithvi Shaw was unable to find an IPL team at last year's auction. He has since relocated from Mumbai to Maharashtra for domestic cricket, and a successful SMAT performance prior to the auction might return him to the IPL scene.

Shaw will be leading the team in the group stage while Ruturaj Gaikwad is away.

In order to persuade IPL franchises of his worth in the shortest format, Karnataka captain Mayank Agarwal, who was formerly a regular in the league, would also be gunning for a bagful of runs.

After a dismal first half of the Ranji Trophy, Nitish Rana will captain Delhi after returning home from a stint with Uttar Pradesh.

Both MP's Venkatesh Iyer, who was released by KKR because of his high price tag of Rs 23.75 crore, and Assam skipper Riyan Parag would want to take full advantage of the occasion.