The Mumbai team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) was packed with match-winners, with no less than six India internationals in the XI. All that was needed was good guidance and mature leadership — traits that skipper Shreyas Iyer displayed in plenty.
Shreyas was calm on the field, and with bat in hand, was a reliable presence in the middle-order. He was happy to allow his more flamboyant teammates like Ajinkya Rahane and Suryakumar Yadav take centre stage, but when the situation demanded it, Shreyas did not hesitate to clear the boundary ropes.
All pieces of the puzzle fell in place during the course of the tournament, leading Mumbai to claim its second SMAT title.
Lauds bowlers
While the batting line-up was filled with experienced stars, the Mumbai bowling unit – barring pacer Shardul Thakur – was fairly fresh. The success of the bowling attack pleased Shreyas no end.
“It helps the captain when you have such experienced players in your team. But if you see our bowling line-up, there are hardly any India players. The bowlers struggled a bit right from the opening match, but the way they showed their skills in the last two games was superb. They stepped up at the right time when the team needed them. They did very well to concede only around 170 in the final. This was a great effort, because we know that the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium pitch tends to get more batting-friendly as the match goes on. When the lights come on, it is easy for the batters,” Shreyas said.
In both the semifinal and final, Shreyas won the toss and elected to field first. He was well served by the likes of spinners Tanush Kotian and Atharva Ankolekar and all-rounder Suryansh Shedge, who managed to restrict the opposition to sub-par scores.
A strong Baroda, with Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya in its ranks, could manage only 158 for seven in the semifinal. Mumbai made short work of the target, riding on a magnificent 98 from Rahane.
The bowlers performed well under pressure once again in the final, restricting Madhya Pradesh to a manageable 174 for eight. It only took 17.5 overs for Mumbai to coast home.
“Everyone contributed towards this success. Every player made it count at the right time, which was important. Hopefully, we can keep building this momentum in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Ranji Trophy,” Shreyas said.
There is no better feeling than that winning feeling, Shreyas added. “This trophy is important. All the youngsters showcased their talent — it is simply phenomenal. You can see their character both in the dressing room and on the field. They are fearless in their approach, and this is the kind of players we need to back. For me personally, I just want to win each and every game,” Shreyas said.
Among Mumbai’s standout performers was opener Rahane. The 36-year-old finished as the highest run-scorer of the tournament, and won the Player-of-the-Series award. Rahane was destructive in the PowerPlay, showcasing a new found penchant for attacking stroke-play.
Ultimate team man
Shreyas termed Rahane as the ultimate team man who will go that extra mile to contribute to the bigger cause.
“Rahane is the sort of a character who will give 110% for the team. He will step up at the right time on any given occasion. He actually started the tournament batting at number four. We had two openers (Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Prithvi Shaw), so he sacrificed his position. After Suryakumar Yadav came into the tournament, Rahane became the opener. He is a fantastic team man, and hopefully he carries forward the same momentum in the upcoming games as well. Salute to him — the way he approached each and every game,” Shreyas said.
The emergence of Shedge, meanwhile, augurs well for the future of Mumbai cricket. All of 21, Shedge displayed maturity well beyond his age to don the role of finisher with aplomb. His talent and temperament was underlined in the final, when he blasted an unbeaten 15-ball 36 to claim the Player-of-the-Match award. Shedge is also a handy medium-pacer with the knack of grabbing crucial middle-over wickets.
Shreyas was full of praise for the young Shedge. “He is a phenomenal athlete. You see him running around, bowling crucial overs, and taking the field on long-on. He’s that kind of a player who is always there for the team, no matter what the situation. He goes full throttle, and he is hell bent towards achieving success. That is what fascinates me about him. The quick twos he took while batting — not everyone can do that.
“Everyone comes in and hits sixes and fours, but running quicks twos means you are putting 110 percent effort for the team,” Shreyas said.
Shreyas and Shedge will reunite in IPL 2025, with both players signed by Punjab Kings. Shreyas stated that while it is too early to assign a role for Shedge at Punjab Kings, the all-rounder has all the right qualities to succeed.
“I really love his work ethic. He is someone who puts in the hard yards. Even after the game, he goes to train, and this reflects in his athletic ability. I feel all these small things matter a lot when you are selecting a player in your team. He has stepped up at the right time, and he has shown that he is worth playing at that level,” Shreyas said.
Staying in the now
On a personal note, Shreyas is keen to stay in the present and relish this successful SMAT campaign.
“I believe in staying in the present. Right now I just want to go and enjoy this trophy win with my teammates, friends and family. I am not thinking about what to plan ahead. I would like to get some applause from my friends about this success. I will cherish it. And after that we will see what comes next,” Shreyas said.
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium wore a festive look during the summit clash, with a massive number of spectators packing the venue. The sheer numbers took Shreyas by surprise.
“Whenever we play at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the crowds are electrifying. The way they came in huge numbers today — it was out of the world. I was not expecting it. I saw one stand fully packed at the start of the match.
“But later on, once the match picked up pace, the numbers increased and it went bonkers. We know how much the people of Bengaluru love their RCB players, but I’m happy that they supported us as well,” Shreyas said.
Published – December 18, 2024 12:04 am IST
