SMAT 2025: Hardik Pandya Cleared to Play, Marks Return After Injury Layoff

The 18th season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, BCCI’s top T20 tournament, will begin on Wednesday, November 26. The competition will be played across four venues in India, with 38 teams taking part and a total of 141 matches lined up as they fight for the prestigious title.

In a big positive for Baroda, Hardik Pandya is set to feature in most of their matches. The star all-rounder has been out of action since getting injured during the Asia Cup 2025, but he is now ready to return to competitive cricket. Hardik hasn’t played any match since August and was also left out of the upcoming ODI series against South Africa, making this comeback even more important for him and his team.

Hardik Pandya Set for Crucial Comeback in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025

"He has not yet joined the squad, but we expect him to play the majority of the games. His presence always provides a big boost to the squad," a PTI report quoted Baroda Head coach. 

India’s squad for the T20I series against South Africa hasn’t been announced yet, so Hardik Pandya is still in the running. But he will first need to show that he is fully fit and ready to play. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy gives him the perfect chance to prove himself, impress the selectors, and push for a return to the Indian team in December 2025. Further, the management want Pandya to regain full fitness at the earliest because of the upcoming T20 World Cup.

The prestigious T20I event will take place in India in February, and they want Hardik Pandya to be fully fit for that event. Talking about Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Baroda are all set to start their campaign on Wednesday against Bengal. However, it is not clear whether Hardik will be available for selection from the first match or not.