Top 5 performers of Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021
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After a long wait, domestic cricket returned to India with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The premier T20 tournament of the country was given precedence over the Ranji Trophy keeping the scheduling constraints and upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) auction in mind. And the tournament didn’t disappoint. While Dinesh Karthik led Tamil Nadu lifted the title, many young and promising cricketers lit up the tournament with stellar performances.
With the IPL Auctions knocking on the door and the mega auctions poised for next year, let’s take a look at the top 5 players of the tournament. And have made their case clear for the auctions by exemplifying great cricketing skills during the competition.
N Jagadeesan
The Tamil Nadu top finished as the top run-getter of the tournament with four consecutive half-centuries to his name in the group stages. With 362 runs at a strike rate of more than 140 and an average of almost 73, he has been a prolific run-scorer for the champions of SMAT 2021.
With the Chennai Super Kings looking identify a core of Indian players for the future, Jagadeesan can be a good fit for the middle order. His swashbuckling hitting coupled with his handy skill with the gloves, makes him a great fit into the side which is bracing itself for the post MS Dhoni era. If not so, his exploits here augurs well for his future T20 career.
Prabhsimran Singh
The third highest run-getter of the tournament, Prabhsimran Singh helped Punjab immensely throughout the tournament with his flamboyant bating. The 20-year-old youngster finished with most sixes in the tournament, with as many as 22 maximums to his name. Singh’s unbeaten knocks of 89 and 49 against the defending champions, Karnataka were the highlight of the tournament for him.
He has been released by the Kings XI Punjab after he failed to grasp the limited opportunities that came his way. But with this strong show, he has got himself on the radar for a potential hard-hitting batsman. The franchises will definitely be going after the Punjab batter given his unique ability to go big on will.
Kedar Devdhar
After Baroda’s captain Krunal Pandya and vice-captain Deepak Hooda pulled out of the tournament, the responsibility landed on the shoulders of Kedar Devdhar. The stand-in skipper rewarded the faith of the management as he finished as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer. Devdhar helped the side to the finals of the tournament leading by example in absence of the senior pros.
With almost 350 runs at an average of just below 70, displayed his prowess on the big stage. It will not be surprising if he attracts some big bids in the upcoming auction.
Vishnu Solanki
The Baroda number three batsman, Vishnu Solanki, shot to fame after finishing a thriller with a helicopter shot. In the Quarter-Final against Haryana, Baroda needed 15 off the final over. The 28 years pulled it off in the most dramatic fashion. He ended the match with a helicopter shot when his side needed 5 off the last ball.
He finished the tournament 267 runs across 8 matches. His ability to get the job done under pressure will make him a hot favourite in the upcoming IPL auctions.
Lukman Meriwala
With 15 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 13.27, the Baroda bowler was the second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament. Meriwala’s best bowling figures of 5 for 8 runs came against Chattisgarh. This undoubtedly was the most impactful performance from the left armer given that it came when the stakes were high.
Meriwala again stepped during the semi-final clash against Punjab as he removed both the openers. His devastating start set up the tempo for his side. Punjab could never recover from early blows as Baroda sealed a 25 run win to book a place in the finals. These two performances in high-pressure situations make him a good candidate for the auction.
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Anshuman Mahapatra
(1496 Articles Published)