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Hardik Pandya To Feature In Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Under Brother Krunal's Captaincy

Anurag Dasgupta

Hardik and Krunal to play together for Baroda [Source: @ImTanujSingh/X.Com] Hardik and Krunal to play together for Baroda [Source: @ImTanujSingh/X.Com]

After a successful series against South Africa, Indian all-rounder, Hardik Pandya is set to feature for Baroda in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. (SMAT). Interestingly, he will play under the captaincy of his brother, Krunal Pandya. The tournament begins on November 23, a day prior to the IPL mega auction.

Under Krunal's leadership, Baroda reached the finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, last year, but they lost to Punjab in Mohali. Talking about Hardik Pandya , he last played a domestic match for Baroda in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy season, and he last featured in SMAT way back in 2016, before his maiden international call-up.

Baroda have been superb in the ongoing Ranji Trophy campaign, topping the group by winning four matches. Krunal, himself has led from the front and he'll now hope to deliver the goods in SMAT as well. In the 2024 Ranji season, Krunal has accumulated 367 runs in seven innings, and him alongside Hardik will be the key players for Baroda in the upcoming 20-over tournament.

Hardik retained ahead of mega auction, Krunal released

The two brothers have faced different tales in the retention list. While Hardik is the captain of the Mumbai Indians and has been retained ahead of the mega auction, Krunal was released by the Lucknow Super Giants as he now finds himself without a franchise.

However, the multiple time IPL winner has great credentials and should fetch a buyer in the auction. Hardik, on the other hand, had a miserable IPL 2024 campaign where his team failed to qualify for the playoffs. He'll hope for a better showing as Mumbai Indians enter the auction pool with a budget of 45 crores.