SMAT presents huge stakes for players like Venky, Shaw, etc as they look to make a statement ahead of the T20 World Cup.
SMAT: Shaw, Akash Deep, Venkatesh Iyer have a lot at stake.
Shaw has revived his career in Maharashtra after losing his place in the Mumbai team and going unsold in IPL 2025 because to issues with form, fitness, and discipline. He has responded to the change with an outstanding comeback to red-ball cricket, scoring 470 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 92.33 in the Ranji Trophy.
Shaw is also in the running to captain Maharashtra once Ruturaj Gaikwad joins the India ODI team for the South Africa series when the season’s white-ball phase gets underway. Shaw, a natural powerplay aggressor, will be aiming for large runs and attempting to impress IPL franchises with his potential in 2026.
In IPL 2025, Riyan Parag took over as captain of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) while Sanju Samson was out due to injury, however his own performance fell short of that of the prior campaign. Now that Samson has joined the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Parag will have an opportunity to re-establish himself as a leader and performer when he plays for Assam. Due to a shoulder ailment, he hasn’t been close to an India call-up in almost a year.
This is a crucial period to regain momentum because of his lacklustre performance in the most recent India A series against South Africa A. In addition, he has the Royals’ long-term captaincy to contend for, since the team has strongly supported him since 2018.
After a poor 2025 season, Venkatesh Iyer, a headline-grabbing INR 23.75 crore signing, was released a year later from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Due in large part to the Impact-Player rule, he was not employed with the ball and only achieved 142 runs in seven innings with a solitary half-century after being appointed vice-captain. Iyer now has an opportunity to start over since the restriction won’t apply at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Akash Deep had a disappointing season after being selected by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for INR 8.25 crore prior to IPL 2025. He was not a starter at the start of the season due to family matters. Then he got a niggle when he got back. He appeared terribly undercooked by the time he began, and in the six games he played, he averaged 12.8 per over for three pitiful wickets. Akash Deep is still far from being a well-known IPL or T20 player despite his rapid rise through the ranks.
However, due to the versatility they provide in terms of squad balance, Indian fast bowlers frequently fetch top billing in IPL auctions. Because of this, a strong Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy might quickly increase Akash Deep’s demand in the auction.
Umran Malik made his debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2022 Indian Premier League, reaching a speed of 156.9 kph. However, his career has not been easy thereafter. Malik has had to spend more time in rehab and on the sidelines than on the cricket pitch due to concerns about his form, fitness, and attitude. Due to bouts of illness and injury (hip and hamstring), he missed the whole 2024–2025 domestic season and the IPL that followed. However, he has since recovered and has been bowling full-tilt, even participating in Abhishek Nayar’s training camps.