IPL 2025: 3 MI Players Who Did Well In SMAT 2024

Aashay Chopade

Hardik Pandya bowling for MI (Source: @cricbuzz/X.com)Hardik Pandya bowling for MI (Source: @cricbuzz/X.com)

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 is India's most important domestic T20 tournament and this time around, it was a huge success with many big international players plying their trade. The power-packed Mumbai unit won the trophy by beating Madhya Pradesh by five wickets, but there were many quality performers in all the teams who will play a big role for their respective franchises in IPL.

One of the most high-profile franchises of the lot is Mumbai Indians. They are the five-time IPL winners, but had a forgettable last season and would be itching to make a strong comeback. 

Many of their senior and young players have done well in SMAT 2024, and let's see which three MI players have been top-performers in the tournament.

Tilak Varma

The talented Southpaw scored back-to-back centuries against South Africa in T20Is, and carried that form in SMAT 2024, scoring 327 runs in six innings. He started off the tournament with a stunning knock of 151 off just 67 balls while he hit two more fifties against Bengal and Bihar.

He ended the tournament with quality knock against the finalists Madhya Pradesh with 46 off just 34 balls. He scored his runs in the tournament at a strike-rate of 169.43 and at an average of 65.40 which shows the impact and consistency he brought to the table.

He will be a key player for Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL and his current form in the shortest format is a great news for the franchise.

Hardik Pandya

The MI skipper Hardik Pandya emerged as show-stopper whenever he played for Baroda in SMAT 2024. He delivered plenty of quality performances and took his side to some improbable wins in tense run chases. He slammed 246 runs in seven innings at a strike-rate of 193.70 at an average of almost 50.

Pandya also picked six wickets, but he was at his vintage best with the bat. He started off the tournament with 74 off just 35 balls and then followed it up with rollicking knocks of 41, 69 and 47. So, Pandya stamped his authority as an all-rounder in the tournament and he would be looking to continue that in IPL 2025 as well.

Raj Bawa

The 22-year-old youngster was bought for just 30 Lakhs by MI in the IPL 2025 auction. He is a quality all-rounder who was star when he played junior cricket and in the current SMAT season, he has shown his talent. She played plenty of handy knocks with the bat, starting off the tournament with 61 off just 36 balls.

He scored handy 30s after that and scored his 171 runs at a strike-rate of over 136.80 and at an average of 28.50. He was consistent with the ball as well, picking 12 wickets in seven innings and could be a handy weapon for MI in IPL 2025.