The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025, India’s biggest domestic T20 competition, is all set to begin from 26 November to 18 December 2025. This will be the 18th edition of the tournament and will once again showcase some of India top T20 talent including big names like Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson, Shardul Thakur, Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ravi Bishnoi and many more.
Organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), SMAT has become a vital platform for players to push their case for national selection. The tournament will feature 38 teams, divided into Elite (32 teams) and Plate (6 teams) divisions, similar to the Ranji Trophy structure.
38 Teams Confirmed for SMAT 2025
This year, 38 teams will compete across Elite and Plate divisions.
Elite Division Groups
Group A:
Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Mumbai (defending champions), Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Vidarbha, Railways, Assam
Group B:
Hyderabad, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Goa, Jammu & Kashmir
Group C:
Haryana, Baroda, Gujarat, Puducherry, Services, Punjab, Bengal, Himachal Pradesh
Group D:
Saurashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Tripura, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Karnataka
Plate Division Teams
Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur
These 38 teams include several star players such as Suryakumar Yadav (Mumbai), Sanju Samson (Kerala), Hardik Pandya (Baroda), Shikhar Dhawan’s state-mates, Ishan Kishan (Jharkhand) and other rising talents like Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Bihar).
SMAT 2025 Tournament Format
The Elite division is divided into four groups. From each group, top two teams will qualify for the Super League Stage.
Unlike previous years, the knockout round has been replaced with a Round-Robin Super League, where 8 teams will play for a place in the finals.
- Plate Group Final: 6 December
- Elite Division Final: 18 December
The teams finishing highest in the Super League will advance directly to the grand final on 18 December.
Where to Watch SMAT 2025 Live?
Fans will be able to enjoy all the action on TV and mobile.
TV Telecast:
Star Sports Network will broadcast selected matches live.
Live Streaming:
All matches will be available on JioCinema and the Hotstar app/website.
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 promises exciting T20 cricket, rising talents, high-voltage clashes, and a packed schedule. With top Indian stars on display and a competitive group structure, this edition could be one of the most unpredictable and entertaining seasons in SMAT history.
