The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 offered plenty of positives for the Rajasthan Royals camp as they gear up for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season.
With several Royals, including skipper Sanju Samson, showcasing their skills at SMAT 2024, fans had plenty to cheer about ahead of the upcoming IPL campaign.
From Kumar Kartikeya’s wizardry with the ball to Samson’s and Shubham Dubey’s clinical hitting, here’s a look at the performances of the Rajasthan Royals stars at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024.
Kumar Kartikeya
Kumar Kartikeya, one of the Royals’ key signings at the IPL 2025 auction, lived up to his reputation with a remarkable SMAT 2024 campaign. The crafty left-arm spinner claimed 17 wickets in 10 matches for Madhya Pradesh, finishing as the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker.
Instrumental in Madhya Pradesh’s journey to the final, Kartikeya struck at a crucial moment in the summit clash, dismissing the dangerous Shivam Dube.
His variations left Mumbai’s experienced batters, including Suryakumar Yadav and Ajinkya Rahane, in constant guesswork. Kartikeya maintained an impressive economy of 7.63 throughout the tournament. His best figures of 3/25 came in a Group A victory over Hyderabad.
Sanju Samson
Royals skipper Sanju Samson had a mixed campaign with Kerala, scoring 136 runs in five matches at SMAT 2024. His 75 off 45 balls against Services in Group E was a highlight but Kerala narrowly missed the knockouts despite winning four out of six matches.
Shubham Dubey
Shubham Dubey emerged as a key finisher for Vidarbha, scoring 134 runs in just four matches at an average of 67 and an impressive strike rate of 181.08. His unbeaten 52 off 31 against Chhattisgarh lifted Vidarbha to 206 in a crucial Group D game. In the quarter-finals, his fiery 43 off 19 helped Vidarbha post 221/6, though eventual champions Mumbai chased it down in the final over.
Sandeep Sharma
Retained by the Royals for IPL 2025, Sandeep Sharma displayed his trademark consistency for Chandigarh. The experienced right-arm seamer bagged nine wickets in seven matches at an economy of 7.48. His best of 4/22 came against Assam.
Yudhvir Singh
Yudhvir Singh, representing Jammu and Kashmir, impressed with his ability to contain runs under pressure. He picked up seven wickets in as many matches, maintaining an economy of 7.22.
Akash Madhwal
Akash Madhwal, another Royals pacer, showcased his wicket-taking ability with eight scalps from five matches for Uttarakhand at an economy of 8.73.
Nitish Rana
Nitish Rana had a quiet SMAT by his standards but showed glimpses of his class with a 61 off 42 for Uttar Pradesh against Delhi in Group C. Rana finished with 111 runs and chipped in with four wickets in nine matches.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi
The Royals’ youngest acquisition, 13-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, made a brief appearance at SMAT 2024 before heading to the UAE for the Under-19 Asia Cup. The precocious talent scored a quickfire 13 off six balls for Bihar against Rajasthan in Group A in his only match this season.
