Karnataka Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024-25 Squad: Complete List of Players, Schedule and Fixtures

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Karnataka has unveiled a strong 15-member squad for the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), scheduled from November 23 to December 15.

Led by experienced opener Mayank Agarwal, the team features an exciting blend of seasoned campaigners and promising young talents. Manish Pandey, another stalwart of Indian domestic cricket, has been named vice-captain for the T20 tournament.

Mayank Agarwal, a former India opener, was Karnataka's standout performer in the 2023 SMAT, finishing as their leading run-scorer. With his wealth of experience in high-pressure games, Agarwal will be key to Karnataka's chances this season. His deputy, Manish Pandey, brings additional leadership strength and remains a dependable middle-order batter.

Karnataka's squad strikes a balance between seasoned players and emerging stars. Devdutt Padikkal, known for his elegant stroke play, and Abhinav Manohar, a rising T20 talent, will form the backbone of the batting lineup. But Padikkal won't be part of the squad as he has been included for India in the Test series against Australia.

Meanwhile, Shreyas Gopal, the experienced leg-spinner, will lead the spin department. Krishnappa Gowtham, who was Karnataka's leading wicket-taker in the previous edition. His omission is surprising given his consistent performances, and the team will hope others can step up in his place.

Karnataka SMAT 2024-25 Schedule and Fixtures

The 17th edition of SMAT will see Karnataka competing in Group B, which includes strong sides like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Saurashtra, and Baroda, among others. Karnataka will kickstart their campaign on November 23, taking on Uttarakhand in their opening match.

Karnataka, two-time champions of SMAT, will aim to bounce back after a disappointing campaign in 2023, where they failed to progress beyond the group stage, finishing third behind Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. With the depth and talent in their 2024 squad, they'll look to reclaim their dominance in the tournament.

One notable name missing from the squad is Samit Dravid, son of legendary Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid. The 19-year-old showcased his potential in the Maharaja T20 Trophy 2024, playing crucial knocks for the title-winning Mysuru Warriors.

Karnataka Full Squad for SMAT 2024-25

Mayank Agarwal (c), Manish Pandey (vc), Abhinav Manohar, Shreyas Gopal, Smaran R, Shrijith KL (wk), Vijaykumar Vyshak, Vidyadhar Patil, Manoj Bhandage, Macneil H Noronha, Vasuki Koushik, Chethan LR (wk), Shubhang Hegde, Manvath Kumar L