SMAT 2024: Rajat Patidar, Shreyas Iyer set tounament ablaze with blistering knocks

Shreyas Iyer and Rajat Patidar set the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024-25 on fire with blistering knocks on Wednesday, November 27. Patidar played a magnificent knock of 62 (37) for Madhya Pradesh guiding them to a humongous score of 188/8. On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer scored a breathtaking 71 (39) with the help of eight fours and three sixes for Mumbai against Maharashtra.

Iyer’s innings comes after he became the second most expensive player in the history of IPL auction being sold for a whopping INR 26.75 crore to Punjab Kings (PBKS). Iyer broke Mitchell Starc’s record price of Rs 24.75 crores set in the mini auction for 2024 season and became the most expensive player ever in the IPL history. However, his feat was short lived as Rishabh Pant’s sale to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for INR 27 crore helped him surpass Iyer’s record.

Iyer got involved in a massive 110-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane off 59 balls as the duo helped Mumbai chase down the target of 173. Rahane scored 52 (34) smashing three fours and as many sixes. Courtesy of their partnership, Mumbai chased down the target of 172 in 17.1 overs and won the match by five wickets.

Rajat Patidar stars in Madhya Pradesh’s win

Mukesh Choudhary was the pick of the bowlers for Maharasthra with figures of 4/33 in four overs. Meanwhile, Patidar got the support of Harpreet Singh as the duo forged 112-run stand off 67 balls as they rescued Madhya Pradesh from 28/3. The duo helped their team post a massive 188/8 on the board in their allotted 20 overs. Their stand played a key role in Madhya Pradesh emerging victorious by nine runs against Punjab.

Abhishek Sharma was the top scorer for the opposition with his knock of 61 (36) studded with nine fours and a six while Prabhsimran Singh (26 off 17) and Naman Dhir (39 off 27) made also made valuable contributions. However, they didn’t prove to be enough as Punjab lost by nine runs.