Jharkhand’s performance was a historical demonstration of their caliber at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, in the city of Pune, and they registered their mark in the history books on the 18th of December, 2025. The team’s performance was a result of the incredible leadership by Ishan Kishan, who led the team to a crushing defeat of Haryana by 69runs and brought home the first Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy to the state.

A Record-Breaking Batting Masterclass

However, after being invited to bat first by the captain of the Haryana team, Ankit Kumar, the batting side had the initial setback with the loss of Virat Singh in the first over itself. Nevertheless, what happened next was a batting display that left the onlookers stunned. The giant partnership was built by the captain Ishan Kishan and the budding sensation Kumar Kushagra, which was 177 runs in just 82 balls.

Ishan Kishan batted aggressively right from the beginning, smacking a mind-boggling century off just 45 deliveries. The total that he scored was 101, inclusive of six boundaries and ten sixes. By scoring over a hundred, he achieved the rare distinction of scoring a hundred in the final match for the second time in the history of this tournament. He was not alone, as Kumar Kushagra scored 81 off just 38 deliveries.

Jharkhand Sets A Massive Target

The last-over entertainment from Anukul Roy and Robin Minz helped Jharkhand reach a mind-boggling total of 262/3 in their allotted 20 overs. This total currently is the highest ever scored in a final of any edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy League in history. Anukul Roy scored a crucial 40-run cameo in just 20 balls, while Robin Minz remained unbeaten with 31 off 14 balls.

The bowlers of Haryana had difficulty hitting the right straps as the Jharkhand batsmen capitalized on the small boundaries and friendly pitch. Although he was under pressure, Harshal Patel was able to capture two wickets, but this only gave the opposing team a chance to build on.

The pressure of the scoreboard mounted as the players of Haryana stepped onto the field to face a target that required them to score in excess of 13 runs per over right from the onset.

Haryana Struggles Under Scoreboard Pressure

The match started proceedings for Haryana with some unrest as they lost their opening partners inside the power play. Shahbaz Ahmed and Nishant Sindhu were seen trying to stabilize the match with a pinch of a partnership, but the rising required run rate led them to hit some questionable shots. It was Shahbaz who top-scorered for Haryana with a brilliant knock of 52 in 28 balls, but he lacked proper support from the other end.

The Jharkhand bowlers were highly disciplined. Vivek Tiwary bowled the best among the bowlers, taking three important wickets for just 25 runs. The spinners, headed by Anukul Roy, reduced the flow of runs in the middle overs, making it difficult for Haryana to cover the deficit. Haryana was eventually reduced to 193/9, a long way from the required parity.

A New Era For Jharkhand Cricket

This victory is the testimony of the development of the game of cricket in the state of Jharkhand despite the shadow of the cricketing legends that the state produces. It is no doubt that the state of Jharkhand is known because of the legendary cricketing performances of the likes of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. But this generation of players has shown that this state can produce players capable of winning major championships on their own merit. The balance of aggressive cricket on the one side and skill on the other was unparallel.

This victory is sweet revenge for Ishan Kishan. He has had his share of highs and lows with his international career, and such a victory not only makes him a top-tier batsman and captain, but also makes his state proud with this national-level championship win. The entire team celebrated on the field with gay abandon at the final wicket to fall, signaling their dominance throughout this campaign and remaining unbeaten in the entire knockouts.