Suryakumar Yadav To Play For Mumbai In Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026 -Report (Source: AFP)
India's star batter and former T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav is set to feature for Mumbai in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2026, according to reports.
The experienced T20 batter will return to domestic cricket as he looks to regain form and make a strong case for an India comeback in the shortest format.
It is worth noting that Mumbai will begin their campaign against Hyderabad in Kolkata on November 14. The Mumbai squad selection is expected to take place next week.
Suryakumar Yadav To Feature In SMAT 2026
Suryakumar Yadav, who led India to the T20 World Cup 2026 title earlier this year, was not included in Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad. MCA Chief selector Rajesh Pawar reportedly explained that the decision was linked to Suryakumar’s limited red-ball cricket in recent times.
However, he is expected to be available for the shortest format of the game (SMAT 2026), as per a latest report by Revsportz.
This time, there are chances that Suryakumar Yadav could have the opportunity to play throughout the tournament, which would give him more chances to spend time in the middle and deliver consistent performances.
The 36-year-old has not played international cricket since the end of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Although Suryakumar Yadav has been away from top-level cricket, he recently featured in the President's Cup, a T20 club tournament organised by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA).
SKY’s SMAT 2026 Campaign Could Boost His India Comeback Hopes
It is important to note that Suryakumar Yadav had a decent campaign in the previous edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He scored 165 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 139.83 and an average of 41.25.
Suryakumar Yadav last played in Mumbai T20 2026, where he scored 163 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 175.27 and an average of 40.75.
One thing that cannot be denied is that the upcoming T20 competition will be important for the Mumbai batter, especially after his exclusion from the Indian team.
