Ishan Kishan has once again proved why he remains one of the most explosive talents in Indian cricket by smashing a sensational 45-ball century in the final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025. Leading Jharkhand against Haryana at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, the southpaw unleashed a masterclass in aggressive T20 batting.
After Jharkhand suffered an early setback with the loss of Virat Singh in the very first over, Kishan took it upon himself to steady the ship and eventually decimate the opposition. His innings was a perfect blend of calculated risks and sheer power, featuring a barrage of boundaries that left the Haryana bowlers searching for answers.
SMAT 2025 final: A record-breaking partnership between Ishan Kishan and Kumar Kushagra stun Haryana
The Jharkhand innings was defined by a historic second-wicket stand between Kishan and the young, talented Kumar Kushagra, who together dismantled the Haryana bowling attack. Coming together at a precarious 4/1 after the dismissal of Virat, the duo put on a spectacular exhibition of power-hitting, adding over 150 runs in a display of total dominance. Their partnership has etched itself into the record books as the highest-ever stand in the history of a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final, surpassing all previous benchmarks for the tournament’s showpiece event.
While Kishan was the aggressor-in-chief, reaching his fifty in just 24 balls, Kushagra played the perfect foil, striking a rapid 76* off 39 deliveries to keep the pressure mounting from both ends. By the 14th over, Jharkhand had raced to 179/1, scoring at an astonishing rate of nearly 13 runs per over against a formidable Haryana side. The chemistry between the two batters was evident as they rotated strike with ease before launching into a series of maximums that targeted every corner of the Pune ground.
Ishan Kishan’s 45-ball century for Jharkhand in SMAT 2025 final
Kishan’s path to his 45-ball century was a masterclass in T20 batting construction, specifically in how he targeted the powerplay and manipulated the field thereafter. After a tentative start against Anshul Kamboj’s moving ball, Kishan broke the shackles in the second over by flicking Ishant Bhardwaj for a massive six over deep square leg.
Kishan targeted the final over of the powerplay bowled by Amit Rana, clobbering three sixes in four balls to propel Jharkhand to 69/1 by the end of the first six overs. His hundred was eventually secured with a trademark slap over cover off Kamboj in the 14th over, a shot that epitomized his confidence and hand-eye coordination throughout the afternoon.
Statistically, his knock was highlighted by 6 fours and a staggering 10 sixes, maintaining a strike rate well above 220 for the duration of his stay at the crease. He became only the second batter in the history of the SMAT to record a century in the final, joining Punjab’s Anmolpreet Singh in that elite club. This performance was particularly significant as it pushed him past the 500-run mark for the 2025 season, making him the leading run-scorer in the competition and showcasing his incredible consistency across different venues and conditions.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Big stage. Bigger knock. 💯🔥
[Ishan Kishan | Play With Fire | SMAT] pic.twitter.com/gGmGEHik5i
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) December 18, 2025
Ishan Kishan reaches his 100 off just 45 balls having hit 10 sixes already in the 14th over in the SMAT final against Haryana.
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) December 18, 2025
Glad two selectors – RP Singh and Pragyan Ojha – are watching the Ishan Kishan show in SMAT final in Pune.
Couldn’t spot chief selector Ajit Agarkar for the only senior domestic game happening in the country right now. Hope Ishan’s SMAT carnage is taken note of. STATEMENT🔥 pic.twitter.com/c0ekFbVU9k— Sahil Malhotra (@Sahil_Malhotra1) December 18, 2025
517 runs with the bat and brilliant captaincy throughout
What a tournament ishan kishan had after facing so much rejection pic.twitter.com/mxzNoUUUNz
— Sawai96 (@Aspirant_9457) December 18, 2025
Too easy. Well batted. Ishan Kishan with the joint most hundred in SMAT now. https://t.co/HRluABMTYp pic.twitter.com/ovYovBFHyp
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 18, 2025
It’s a redemption of sorts for Ishan Kishan.
A 45-ball century in the SMAT final, leading run-getter in the tournament and has put his team on the brink of a historic maiden Mushtaq Ali Trophy title.— Rahul Rawat (@rawatrahul9) December 18, 2025
Ishan Kishan can’t do anything more to get back into Indian Cricket Team.
BCCI and selectors must pick him in upcoming series.
Don’t waste his prime anymore 🤫#ishankishan
— Akshat Jain (@AkshatJainX) December 18, 2025
PUSHPA celebration from Ishan Kishan after his century🔥
SRH connection🤝#SRH #IshanKishan #SMAT2025 pic.twitter.com/kCVPn7ehAg
— CREX (@Crex_live) December 18, 2025
Ishan Kishan is in some serious form at the moment…
— Shaan Waseem (@shaanwaseem2) December 18, 2025
A spectacular hundred in the SMAT 2025 Final, smashing 101 runs off just 49 balls 🔥#IshanKishan #SyedMushtaqAliTrophy pic.twitter.com/D2v0XH6Hmn
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 18, 2025
