Prithvi Shaw, Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi enter SMAT 2025-26 with focus on IPL 2026 auction
The SMAT 2025-26 season will end on December 18, while the IPL 2026 auction will take place on December 16.
The 2025-26 edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) begins tomorrow. The Indian domestic T20 tournament has immense value. It acts as a feeder event for the Indian Premier League (IPL). This time around, it will be even bigger as 100 out of 105 SMAT matches will be completed by the time the mini-auction takes place on December 16.
IPL franchises will have a better idea of the fitness and abilities of the players before bidding on them. Some of the targeted cricketers will be Venkatesh Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Akash Deep, Rahul Chahar and Prithvi Shaw. Everyone will be looking to get something out of SMAT.
Is IPL captaincy on Venkatesh Iyer’s mind?
Venkatesh, who plays for Madhya Pradesh, is yet to be named captain. In fact, he is yet to lead his national team. But as regular captain Rajat Patidar is injured, there is a possibility that Venkatesh might get the captaincy. If that happens and he succeeds, Kolkata Knight Riders will not just bid for him but could make him captain for IPL 2026.
But Venkatesh will also look to succeed as an all-rounder. Given that there aren’t many Indian star all-rounders, he could be one of the most sought-after players. His form could decide the amount of the check he takes home.
Prithvi Shaw hopes for IPL return
Bishnoi, Akash, Chahar and Shaw will also be in the same situation. Except for Shaw, everyone else was released. There are serious concerns over the T20 credentials of Akash, who was paid INR 8.00 crore by Lucknow Super Giants. His IPL record is dismal, and this could be the time to prove everyone wrong.
Bishnoi has lost form in the IPL. He will be in demand, as there are not many leg-spinners of his quality, but the price could very well be determined by his performance for Gujarat. Chahar falls in the same boat as a leggie and would like to play matches in the IPL again after being benched by Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Shaw, who was unsold last year, will look to return to the IPL. After changing states from Mumbai to Maharashtra, the opener enjoyed success in the first stage of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy. Shaw has also been named interim SMAT captain since Ruturaj Gaikwad earned an ODI call-up to India.
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