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In a high-scoring Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025 final at Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium on December 18, Jharkhand scripted history by clinching their maiden title with a commanding 69-run win over Haryana. Led from the front by captain Ishan Kishan, Jharkhand piled up a massive 262 for 3 before their bowlers combined brilliantly to bundle out Haryana for 193 in 18.3 overs. Kishan’s explosive century set the tone for a night that will be remembered as one of the most dominant finals in the tournament’s history.
Ishan Kishan grooves to viral Dhurandhar steps after SMAT 2025 triumph
As soon as the final wicket fell, celebrations erupted in the Jharkhand camp, with Kishan becoming the centre of attention. Amid loud cheers from teammates and fans, the skipper broke into the now-viral “Dhurandhar” dance step, inspired by Akshaye Khanna’s character Rehman Dakait from the blockbuster film that crossed the 400-crore mark at the box office. Egged on by his teammates, Kishan recreated the iconic slow-motion shoulder shrug to the FA9LA track, a Bahraini rap number known for its unique blend of Balochi swagger and Arabic trap beats.
Later, Kishan explained the emotion behind the moment, revealing that the entire team had watched the film together during the tournament. When his teammates urged him to perform the step after the historic win, he couldn’t hold back.
“We all watched this movie Dhurandhar and you know there’s a special step going on. So these guys just asked me to come and do that particular step. And at that point in time, I was really emotional. Like, yeah, we have finally done it. And what was required, we were the best team in the tournament. And so that is something which encourages you a lot. I just came to lift the trophy by doing that step and everyone was happy,” Kishan said in an interview with BCCI.
Here’s the video:
We've seen these moves before 🕺😉
Can you guess where it's from? 🤔
🎥 The story behind Jharkhand's unique celebrations after clinching their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 😀 | |
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic)
Captain’s knock powers Jharkhand to SMAT 2025 victory against Haryana
Batting first in the day-night final, Jharkhand came out with attacking intent and never took the foot off the accelerator. Despite losing Virat Singh early, the innings was transformed by a breathtaking 177-run partnership between Kishan and Kumar Kushagra. Kishan was in devastating form, racing to a half-century in just 24 balls and bringing up his hundred in 45 deliveries, smashing the Haryana bowling with clean hitting and fearless strokeplay.
Kushagra played the perfect supporting role with a fluent 81, while the late flourish from Anukul Roy and Robin Minz ensured Jharkhand crossed the 250 mark, finishing with a colossal 262 for 3 — one of the highest totals in SMAT history. Haryana’s bowlers struggled to contain the onslaught, conceding runs at over 13 an over as boundaries flowed freely to all parts of the ground.
In reply, Haryana’s chase suffered an early setback as they slumped to 1 for 2 within the first over. Although Yashvardhan Dalal and Nishant Sindhu attempted a counterattack, Jharkhand’s disciplined bowling attack kept striking at regular intervals. Sushant Mishra and Bal Krishna led the charge with crucial breakthroughs, while Roy and Vikash Singh chipped in to ensure Haryana never truly threatened the daunting target. The innings ended at 193, sealing a comprehensive victory for Jharkhand. Kishan was deservedly named Player of the Match for his match-winning century, while Roy walked away with the Player of the Series award for his outstanding all-round performance.
