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Suryakumar Yadav, Rahane pummel Railways as Mumbai start off SMAT with a big victory

Aakash Saini

Suryakumar Yadav and Ajinkya Rahane [Source: @BCCIdomestic/x]Suryakumar Yadav and Ajinkya Rahane [Source: @BCCIdomestic/x]

Defending champions Mumbai started off their 2025-26 Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy campaign with a comprehensive win over Railways at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Senior man Ajinkya Rahane delivered a ‘Player of the Match’ winning performance, while India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav also demonstrated his batting excellence on his return to domestic cricket.

Hardik Tamore at number four also scored quick runs in the chase alongside Indian international and star all-rounder Shivam Dube.

Ayush Mhatre flops but Mumbai wins big

Facing Railways in their Elite Group A match of the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy season in Lucknow on November 26, Mumbai captain Shardul Thakur sent down a tight spell of 1-15 from his four overs to restrict Karn Sharma’s troops to just 158-5, even though IPL cult hero Ashutosh Sharma bludgeoned a fiery 61 from 30 balls with seven fours and three sixes.

Apart from Shardul Thakur, bowlers Tushar Deshpande, Shivam Dube, Sairaj Patil also picked up a wicket each in the innings.

Chasing 159, teenage sensation Ayush Mhatre failed to get going as the 18-year-old was dismissed for just 18 from 15 balls at the top. His senior opening partner Ajinkya Rahane, however, compiled an elegant 62 off 33 balls with four fours and five cracking sixes. Rahane even shared 50-plus partnerships with Mhatre as well as with India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav to set up stage of a comprehensive Mumbai win.

Suryakumar himself smeared 47 from 30 balls, while Hardik Tamore (23* off 16) and Shivam Dube (5* off 2) notched up the winning runs together for Mumbai with seven wickets and 25 balls to spare.

For Suryakumar Yadav, the match served as a crucial dress rehearsal before he rejoins the national squad for India’s upcoming five-match home T20I series against South Africa. He is expected to play a few more matches for Mumbai in the meantime.