SMAT 2024: Mumbai Lifts The Title
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Final (SMAT) Mumbai Triumphs in Controversy-Laden Catch Decision.
Mumbai won the final of the 2024 (SMAT) Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy by five wickets, completing a chase of 175 runs. The match was played under slightly challenging conditions had Mumbai recovered from early setbacks, thanks to crucial contributions from their middle-order batsmen. Mumbai’s victory in this final marks their second Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy win, having last claimed the title in 2022. The win, however, was not without controversy, with an incident involving a disputed catch by Ajinkya Rahane that stirred up a lot of debate among fans and commentators.
Mumbai’s Victory: A Solid Chase in SMAT final
The Mumbai chase of 175 runs was shaky from the early stages as the wickets started falling one after the other, which included captain Shreyas Iyer and opener Prithvi Shaw. But then, Suryakumar Yadav and Ajinkya Rahane stabilized the innings by scoring a crucial partnership for their team. Suryakumar Yadav smashed four fours and three sixes in an aggressive knock as he scored 48 runs off 35 balls. He contributed 52 runs for the third wicket with Rahane who added 37 runs off 30 balls including four fours.
The two experienced batsmen guided Mumbai to 129/5 in 14.4 overs, still needing 46 runs to win. Despite Rahane’s dismissal, caught by Rahul Batham off Venkatesh Iyer’s bowling, the chase was completed without further drama. Suryansh Shedge (36 not out) and Atharva Ankolekar (16 not out) held their nerve and scored the remaining runs in just three overs, taking Mumbai to a comfortable five-wicket win with 13 balls to spare.
Disputed Catch: Ajinkya Rahane’s Controversial Moment
Mumbai’s Ajinkya Rahane and Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer made it to the news with a controversial moment when Rahane took a catch at backward point in the 13th over of Madhya Pradesh’s innings, which led to a furor.
Suryansh Shedge was bowling a short delivery outside off stump, which forced Iyer to play a cut shot. Iyer could not control the shot, and the ball went towards Rahane, who dived low to catch it. Rahane himself was unsure whether he had caught the ball cleanly. The third umpire couldn’t make a clear case to overrule the on-field decision. Despite no conclusive replay footage, the bowler was given the benefit of the doubt, and Iyer was out after scoring 17 runs from 9 balls.
This incident created a huge debate, with many questioning whether the catch was cleanly taken. The decision is considered controversial because the third umpire did not have much evidence to overturn the call given on the field; the players and spectators also got confused.
Patidar’s Lonely Battle for Madhya Pradesh
Earlier in the match, Madhya Pradesh had set a target of 175 runs after being put to bat first. Captain Rajat Patidar was the standout performer for his side, scoring an unbeaten 81 runs off 58 balls. Patidar’s gritty knock anchored the Madhya Pradesh innings, but he lacked significant support from the other end.
Madhya Pradesh’s batting started slowly, with both openers—Arpit Gaud (3) and Harsh Gawli (2)—falling cheaply. The team was struggling at 38/2 after the powerplay, and pressure continued to build as they lost more wickets. At the 15th over, Madhya Pradesh was reeling at 114/5. However, Patidar found some resistance in Batham (19 runs), with the pair adding 56 runs for the sixth wicket. During the last five overs, Madhya Pradesh scored 60 runs but failed to pose a good challenge to Mumbai’s chase. The total was just 174/8.
Key Contributions and Performances
– Rajat Patidar (Madhya Pradesh): 81* runs off 58 balls, with 6 fours and 3 sixes
– Suryakumar Yadav (Mumbai): 48 runs off 35 balls, with 4 fours and 3 sixes
– Ajinkya Rahane (Mumbai): 37* runs off 30 balls with 4 fours,
– Suryansh Shedge (Mumbai): 36* runs off 24 balls,
– Venkatesh Iyer (Madhya Pradesh): 17 off 9 balls in a disputed dismissal,
– Shubhranshu Senapati (Madhya Pradesh): 23 off 21 balls,
Road to Victory for Mumbai in SMAT final
After a sedate start, Suryakumar and Rahane’s partnership helped Mumbai gain momentum. The early dismissals of Prithvi Shaw and Shreyas Iyer had put Mumbai on the back foot, but the stability brought by their experienced middle-order batsmen helped Mumbai recover. Rahane’s dismissal gave Madhya Pradesh a glimmer of hope, but Shedge and Ankolekar made sure there was no further drama, guiding Mumbai to the target with ease.
A Dramatic and Controversial SMAT Finale
The victory of Mumbai in the final of the (SMAT) Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was a memorable one, not only because of their all-round performance but also because of the controversy over the disputed catch involving Ajinkya Rahane. Mumbai, therefore, celebrated its second SMAT in three years, while Madhya Pradesh had to wait for its first-ever title.
Despite all the hiccups, Mumbai has every reason to smile because of Yadav’s efforts along with Rahane and a decent knock from Suryansh Shedge. For Madhya Pradesh, they would like to sustain the performances by Rajat Patidar and middle-order support but be unhappy because they were not able to set a big target. The contentious catch will, therefore, be a topic for discussion for some time. The third umpire’s decision was widely debated by everyone after the game was over.