The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy The season ended with Mumbai to conquer Madhya Pradesh in the finals M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru and won the prestigious competition again. Several groups were interested in SMAT 2024 including the likes of Delhi, BarodaMadhya Pradesh and Mumbai. The tournament showcased a number of talented players who are showing their potential and getting ready for the upcoming season Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
LSG is aiming to win IPL 2025 with a star-studded squad
Lucknow Super Giants have become a new team in the IPL, but their desire to win the coveted title has not been a secret. The franchise owner, Dr. Sanjiv Goenka they have taken action during the betting season to prepare the best team for the IPL matches. This includes the batting of the star wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pantwho is considered to be the face of the franchise after the release of KL Rahul. On the other hand, several LSG youngsters have raised the expectations of LSG fans and the team management with their success in SMAT 2024.
5 LSG players who impressed at SMAT 2024
Himmat Singh has been in excellent form for his hometown team, Delhi at SMAT 2024. The 28-year-old gave LSG fans a reason to celebrate with his impressive innings against Uttar Pradesh in which he scored 77 runs off 34 balls. Singh hit 4 boundaries and six sixes to put Delhi in a good position in this game. Another impressive inning played by Singh in this match was his unbeaten 71 runs against Jammu and Kashmir. These individual results continue to show that if his SMAT form continues in IPL 2025, Singh can be a valuable addition to the team.
Ayush Badoni was the captain of the Delhi team during SMAT 2024. Under his leadership, Delhi has reached the semi-finals stage of the prestigious competition. This goes on to show the kind of leadership Badoni can be for his IPL franchise. With the bat, Badoni has been helping his home side improve. A key performance from his bat came against Himachal Pradesh, where he scored a valuable 70 runs for the team. His performance with the bat saved the day for Delhi as they reached a respectable total of 149 runs in their 20 overs. Therefore, Badoni has shown in the SMAT that he can handle the pressure and perform when the team needs him the most.
Also Read: Sanjiv Goenka opens up on Rishabh Pant's chances of leading Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025
Ravi Bishnoi has now become a household name for Indian cricket fans, especially in the T20I format. His performance at SMAT 2024 has only cemented his reputation as a reliable T20 spinner. Representing his home team Gujarat, Bishnoi took 7 wickets in the entire tournament including an impressive 3/28 in his four matches against Karnataka.
- Avesh Khan (Madhya Pradesh):
Avesh Khan was an integral part of the Madhya Pradesh team that reached the finals of SMAT 2024. Although he failed to win the title, his contribution to the plate for his home team cannot be ignored. Khan was a reliable pacer in the MP team whose name is synonymous with taking wickets regularly in the tournament. He took a total of 10 wickets in SMAT 2024 and an economy rate of 8.30. LSG fans are now hoping for the same from Khan in the upcoming IPL season.
- Arshin Kulkarni (Maharashtra):
The youngster representing his home side, Maharashtra, became a sensation at SMAT 2024 and showed the world why LSG decided to keep the 19-year-old for the upcoming season. Kulkarni impressed his fans and cricketers alike with bat and bowl. He scored a total of 194 runs during the tournament and took 7 wickets. Kulkarni has proved to be a very young player for his home team and LSG fans now expect the same from him.