Top 5 performers in Round 2 of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 ft. Ayush Mhatre

The second round of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) saw several exciting matches going down to the wire as the teams jostled for early bragging rights in the standings on Friday, November 28. With the IPL 2026 auction only a fortnight away, several renowned names in and out of the franchises reminded fans of their abilities with bat and ball.

Some fringe players also produced noteworthy performances, staking a claim for a potentially healthy price in the auction. While the second cycle was dominated by memorable batting performances from batters across positions, a few eye-catching all-round displays warranted consideration.

There was also a steady diet of game-changing bowling performances, even if most missed the cut for the best of the second round.

On that note, here are the top five performers from Round 2 of the 2025-26 SMAT from bottom to top.

#5 Venkatesh Iyer

Venkatesh Iyer overcame the disappointment of being released by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the IPL 2026 auction with a solid all-round showing against Bihar. After failing in Madhya Pradesh's tournament opener, the 30-year-old scored a game-changing 34-ball 55* at 43/4 in the sixth over.

Iyer's knock resurrected Madhya Pradesh's innings, helping them post a respectable total of 174/8 in 20 overs. The all-rounder also picked up the crucial wicket of Bihar skipper Sakibul Gani in the first over of the second innings.

His spell of 1/31 played a role in Madhya Pradesh eventually bowling out Bihar for a paltry 112 and winning by 62 runs. The victory helped Madhya Pradesh open their account in the competition after they suffered a defeat in their opening outing.

#4 Anmolpreet Singh

It is not often that a performance from a losing side makes the top five of any list. However, Punjab's Anmolpreet Singh produced one of the most stunning knocks in a run-chase in the second round clash against Haryana.

Chasing 208, the 27-year-old walked out to the middle in the third over and took on the bowlers from the get-go. With the likes of Anshul Kamboj, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Nishant Sindhu in the opposition ranks, Anmolpreet stood up to the challenge and scored a breathtaking 81 off 37 deliveries.

His heroics helped Punjab finish on level terms with Haryana on 207 before the latter won the contest in the Super Over. Nevertheless, Anmolpreet solidified his excellent start to the tournament with a second consecutive 40+ score.

#3 Aman Khan

Puducherry skipper Aman Khan undoubtedly takes the honors for the best captain's performance in Round Two of the 2025-26 SMAT. The 29-year-old came into bat with his side in dire straits at 30/4 in four overs.

However, Aman remained unfazed by the situation and scored a brilliant 40-ball 72, including seven boundaries and four maximums. His exploits helped Puducherry post a competitive 166/9 in their 20 overs on a tricky surface.

Aman was not done making an impact on the contest as he removed Baroda's top-scorer Shivalik Sharma on 56 at a crucial juncture, helping his side pull off a 17-run victory. The skipper's all-around showing helped Puducherry begin their SMAT campaign in style with two wins in as many games.

#2 Ayush Mhatre

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fans had their moment of joy as their likely opener next season, Ayush Mhatre, scored an outstanding century for Mumbai against Vidarbha. Chasing 193, the youngster smashed the bowling from the word go, scoring an unbeaten 110 off 53 balls.

Mhatre smashed eight boundaries and as many maximums to help Mumbai script a seven-wicket win, their second consecutive to start the tournament. The right-hander was especially severe on one of India's premier pacers, Umesh Yadav, smashing him for 54 runs in four overs.

#1 Anukul Roy

There is only one winner when it comes to the performance of Round 2, with Jharkhand's Anukul Roy producing an all-round showing for the ages against Karnataka. The 26-year-old started his magic show with a miserly spell of 2/13 in three overs, helping his side restrict a strong Karnataka unit to 157/9 in 20 overs.

Yet, Jharkhand got themselves into early trouble at 38/3 in their run chase before Anukul saved them from the blushes. The southpaw produced a scintillating knock of 95 from 58 deliveries and remained unbeaten until the end, helping Jharkhand pull off a final over thriller by two wickets.

His sparkling performances with bat and ball helped Jharkhand begin the competition with two wins in as many outings.