SMAT 2026: Mumbai boy Chinmay Sutar looks to carry Ranji Trophy form into T20s for Mizoram

In search of opportunities, he moved to the Northeast this season, and what followed was a remarkable first phase of the Ranji Trophy, in which he amassed 834 runs in four Plate Group outings, including a staggering 400 against Nagaland.

Updated : Nov 12, 2026 13:39 IST , MUMBAI - 4 MINS READ

Chinmay Sutar, who hails from Mumbai, shifted to bases to Mizoram in search of more opportunities this season. | Photo Credit: Chinmay Sutar Instagram

Mumbai had shaped Chinmay Sutar as a cricketer. But it was in Mizoram that he found the opportunity to make people sit up and take notice.

In search of opportunities, he moved to the Northeast this season, and what followed was a remarkable first phase of the Ranji Trophy, in which he amassed 834 runs in four Plate Group outings, including a staggering 400 against Nagaland.

It was an extraordinary return for a batter who, earlier this year, returned to Mumbai’s Vijay Hazare Trophy team after five years and also impressed in the T20 Mumbai League, where he amassed 212 runs for Maratha Royals. Having established his credentials in the city, Sutar took a chance on a new beginning in the Northeast. The runs have since done the talking.

Now, back in Mumbai for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he returns to familiar territory, but with a different badge on his chest and considerably more attention on his batting.

“Obviously, it was a difficult decision for me to move from Mumbai to Mizoram. But I think it was also challenging. I got the opportunity and did well, so I am really happy about that,” Sutar tells Sportstar.

The shift from red-ball cricket to T20s brings a different set of demands, but the batter believes he has enough experience in the format to make the transition comfortably.

“It was a great Ranji Trophy season for me in the first phase. Moving to T20s is a different challenge, but I would say that I have played a lot of T20 cricket, whether it is the Mumbai T20 league, club cricket or other games. So, I am confident and will try to do better for my team and help it win. That is the only thing I am thinking about right now,” he says.

There is an advantage to returning to a city where he knows the grounds, pitches and conditions. But Sutar is not looking to read too much into reputations or the quality of the opposition.

“My preparation is simple. I am very confident and positive about things. I know how the pitches are here in Mumbai because I have been playing cricket here since I was a kid. So, I will just try to go out there, apply myself on the pitch and not think about the positions or the big names,” he says.

For Mizoram, Sutar’s presence is equally significant. A young side with limited exposure to the demands of Elite-level cricket, it will look to make the most of the opportunity.

“I have only told my boys to stay focused and positive and play their natural game. I think our team is very energetic and young. It is just that they do not get enough exposure in the Northeast. I think this is the time for them to prove themselves in the Elite division, perform and do their best at the highest level of domestic cricket,” he says.

Also read | One ODI, zero regrets: How Vidarbha stalwart Faiz Fazal is prudently building his second innings

The runs have inevitably brought expectations. Sutar, however, is not interested in setting personal targets or allowing the attention to distract him.

“I am always learning. I am learning every day and trying to make my game better. That is what I think about when I go out and play,” he says.

And when it comes to handling the pressure that comes with being one of the tournament’s standout performers, his approach remains unchanged.

“I don’t think much about that. I just try to focus on my batting, score runs for the team and help my team win. That is my focus. I don’t think about the other things,” he says.

For now, the focus is on making the most of another opportunity, this time on home turf.

Published on Nov 12, 2026

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