Suryakumar Yadav to Shikhar Mohan: 5 players to watch in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Suryakumar Yadav, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Manish Pandey headline five players to watch as the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026-27 begins on November 14.

Updated : Nov 13, 2026 14:37 IST - 4 MINS READ

Suryakumar Yadav will have a point to prove when he takes the field for Mumbai in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 competition.

The latest edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026-27 begins on Saturday, November 14.

The tournament has traditionally been a springboard for players looking to announce themselves and push for higher honours. This edition arrives just a month before the IPL 2027 auction, giving seasoned players a chance to sharpen their games while franchises track emerging domestic talent with an eye on strengthening their squads.

Here are five players to watch out for in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026-27:

Suryakumar Yadav (Mumbai)

Things can change significantly in a year. At this time last year, Suryakumar Yadav was India’s full-time T20I captain. Months later, he would lead the country to a second consecutive T20 World Cup title, on home soil.

However, following a lean run with the bat and a difficult IPL 2026 season with Mumbai Indians, he finds himself out of contention for a place in the national side. Named Mumbai captain for this season, Suryakumar will be keen to put together a strong campaign and remind selectors that he still has plenty to offer.

Manish Pandey (Karnataka)

Manish Pandey last represented Karnataka in the 2024-25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Since then, he has fallen out of contention across formats for his State side.

However, he made the most of his limited opportunities with Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026 before following it up with an impressive campaign in the Maharaja Trophy. Representing Mysore Warriors, he scored 291 runs at an average of 58.20 and a strike rate of 177.44. His performances have earned him a recall to Karnataka’s T20 side, and he will be eager to make the most of the opportunity.

Ruturaj Gaikwad (Maharashtra)

Ruturaj Gaikwad endured a difficult IPL 2026 as captain of Chennai Super Kings, scoring 337 runs at a strike rate of 123.44. His scoring rate came under particular scrutiny, raising questions about his suitability for the increasingly aggressive demands of modern T20 cricket.

Gaikwad played just one match for Maharashtra in last season’s competition and will miss the opening fixtures while on duty with India’s ODI side. Once he returns, however, the tournament will offer him an opportunity to reaffirm his credentials in the shortest format.

Shikhar Mohan (Jharkhand)

Over the past year, Shikhar Mohan has established himself as one of the most exciting young prospects in Indian red-ball cricket. He enjoyed a breakthrough Ranji Trophy season, scoring more than 700 runs for Jharkhand, and continued his prolific run in the Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup. His performances also earned him a place in the India A squad for the tour of New Zealand.

Mohan could now be in line for his T20 debut for Jharkhand. He impressed in the Jharkhand Premier League, scoring 322 runs for Ranchi Titans at an average of 40.25 and a strike rate of 168.58. A strong showing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy could put him firmly on the radar of IPL franchises.

Salil Arora (Punjab)

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 proved to be a breakthrough tournament for Salil Arora. He scored 336 runs at an average of 84 before following it up with an impressive debut IPL season with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Arora heads into the competition in red-hot form, having scored four consecutive centuries for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy. Another strong campaign could strengthen his case for a regular place in the SRH playing XI while also bringing him into contention for higher honours.