![Suryakumar Yadav for Mumbai. [Source - UPCA]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1764953796597_Suryakumar_Mumbai.jpg?type=hq)
Suryakumar Yadav for Mumbai. [Source - UPCA]
In a significant development, the knockout games of the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 (SMAT) have been shifted from Indore to Pune due to logistical reasons. The group stage ends on 8 December, while the knockouts begin on 12 December and conclude with the final on 18 December.
The BCCI confirmed the venue shift through secretary Devajit Saikia, as reported by PTI on Friday. With Indore no longer hosting the knockout leg, the Maharashtra Cricket Association International Stadium in Pune and the DY Patil Academy in Ambi will serve as the two venues for the brand new knockout format of SMAT.
New knockout format in SMAT 2025-26: The Super League round
Notably, this edition of SMAT will not follow the traditional quarterfinal-semifinal-final system. Instead, the top two teams from each of the four Elite groups will move into a Super League round.
Super League
| Group A | Group B |
| Rank 1 of Elite group A | Rank 2 of Elite group A |
| Rank 1 of Elite group B | Rank 2 of Elite group B |
| Rank 2 of Elite group C | Rank 1 of Elite group C |
| Rank 2 of Elite group D | Rank 1 of Elite group D |
- The top two sides from each Elite groups will be divided into Group A and Group B, with each team playing three matches each.
- The three match days for the Super League are scheduled for 12, 14 and 16 December, with four fixtures on each day.
- The toppers of Group A and Group B at the end of the Super League round will then face each other in the final on 18 December.
.jpg)
The change in format is expected to add a league-style competitive edge to the knockout phase. Instead of relying on one-off games, teams will now need to maintain consistency across three match days to secure a place in the title clash.
This new structure also ensures more playing opportunities for all teams and players, with a much more balanced platform after finishing top of their respective Elite groups.
As the group stage nears completion, with five of the seven rounds already done, the race for the top two spots in each Elite group has intensified. Once the lineup is finalized on 8 December, the focus will shift entirely to Pune, where the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy champion will be decided through the newly introduced Super League format.
