Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021: A Comprehensive Overview
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021 was the seventh season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, a domestic Twenty20 cricket competition in India. The tournament took place from February to April 2021 and featured 38 teams, with six teams competing in each of the seven zonal groups.The Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021 was a significant event in Indian domestic cricket, providing a platform for young and talented cricketers to showcase their skills. The tournament offered a chance for players to gain experience at the highest level and potentially earn a spot in the Indian national team.
Tournament Format and Schedule
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021 followed a group-stage format, with teams divided into seven zonal groups. Each group consisted of six teams that played each other in a round-robin format. The top two teams from each group qualified for the quarterfinals.Zonal Groups and Teams
| Zone | Teams |
|---|---|
| Bengal Zone | Bangladesh Cricket Board XI, Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tripura |
| Central Zone | Baroda, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Railways, Rajasthan |
| East Zone | Bangladesh Cricket Board XI, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Tripura, West Bengal |
| North Zone | Haryana, Punjab, Railways, Services, Chandigarh & Districts, Himachal Pradesh |
| Plate Group A | Goa, Hyderabad (India cricket team), Mizoram, Puducherry, Sikkim, Uttarakhand |
| Plate Group B | Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur |
| South Zone | Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad (India cricket team), Pondicherry |
Quarterfinals and Semifinals
The quarterfinals and semifinals were played as single-elimination matches. The winners of each match progressed to the next round.- North Zone vs. Plate Group A
- East Zone vs. Central Zone
- South Zone vs. West Zone (Playoff)
- Plate Group B vs. South Zone
Tournament Results and Statistics
The Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021 was won by the Bengal team, who defeated the Madhya Pradesh team in the final match.The tournament saw some impressive performances from young cricketers, including:
- Ajitesh Singh of Bengal scored the most runs with 442 runs.
- Rajat Patidar of Madhya Pradesh took the highest number of wickets with 18 wickets.
- Ankit Rajpoot of Uttar Pradesh was the leading wicket-taker in a single match, taking 6 wickets against Gujarat.
Player of the Tournament and Final
The player of the tournament award went to Ajitesh Singh of Bengal.The final match between Bengal and Madhya Pradesh saw some thrilling moments. Bengal won the match by 4 wickets, with Sudip Kumar Ghosh scoring an unbeaten 63 off just 37 balls.
Conclusion
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021 was a highly competitive tournament that showcased the skills of young cricketers in India. The event provided a platform for players to gain experience and potentially earn a spot in the Indian national team.The tournament results highlighted some impressive performances from cricketers across different teams, including Bengal's Ajitesh Singh who was awarded the player of the tournament award.