Veteran Indian speedster Bhuvneshwar Kumar was announced as the captain Uttar Pradesh (UP) for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024-25It will be played from November 23 to December 15. This will mark an important change of leadership for the team. Rinku Singhwho captained UP in last year’s tournament, will now play under Bhuvneshwar. With his vast international experience and tactical prowess, Bhuvneshwar’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to boost UP’s chances in the highly competitive T20 tournament.
Change of leadership: Rinku Singh to Bhuvneshwar Kumar
In the previous SMAT season, Rinku led Uttar Pradesh and demonstrated his leadership skills. However, the team’s performance under his captaincy saw them narrowly miss out on the play-offs. this year, Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) handed over the captaincy to Bhuvneshwar with a view to benefit from his extensive experience in both domestic and international cricket.
Rinku remains a key player in the team and is expected to play a key role, especially in the middle order. Madhav Kaushikconsistent performer Ranji Trophy 2024-25 He was named vice-captain with 346 runs in five innings. His presence strengthens the leadership group, complementing Bhuvneshwar’s bowling experience with batting insights.
Star players for SMAT 2024
The Uttar Pradesh squad is loaded with talent featuring several notable names:
- Rinku Singh: Known for his finishing ability and recent IPL heroics.
- Nitish Rana: Experienced all-rounder and IPL quick.
- Yash Dayal: Rising left arm pacer retained by Gujarat Titans in IPL.
- Piyush Chawla: The veteran leg-spinner adds depth and experience.
- Shivam Mavi and Mohsen Khan: Promising young pacers with IPL experience.
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Group C challenges and schedule
Uttar Pradesh is in Group C Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Manipur, Haryana, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand. The team will play all their matches in Mumbai and begin their campaign against Delhi on November 23 at the Wankhede Stadium.
Bhuvneshwar is no stranger to captaincy by leading Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the year Indian Premier League (IPL) many times. Although his IPL leadership has produced mixed results, his strategic mind and ability to perform under pressure make him the ideal leader for UP. His recent release from SRH ahead of the IPL 2025 auction gives him the opportunity to focus on this domestic season and contribute to UP’s success.
SMAT history and aspirations of UP
Uttar Pradesh has a rich history in SMAT and won the trophy in 2015-16. Suresh Raina and took second place in 2013-14. Under Rinku’s leadership last season, UP finished second in their group with three wins from six matches. Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh damaging their chances of qualification. With Bhuvneshwar at the helm, the team aims to improve on last year’s results and make a strong push for a second title. The combination of Bhuvneshwar’s experience, Rinku’s finishing prowess and the all-rounder make it one of the teams to watch in this edition.
Uttar Pradesh team for Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (C), Madhav Kaushik (VC), Karan Sharma, Rinku Singh, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Swastik Chikara, Priyam Garg, Aryan Juyal, Aditya Sharma, Piyush Chawla, Vipraj Nigam, Kartikeya Jaiswal, Shivam Dayal Sharma, Yash , Mohsin Khan, Aaqib Khan, Shivam Mavi, Vineet Panwar.
