3 forgotten India players who can make a comeback through SMAT performances

<p>The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026-27, now in its 19th edition, gets underway on November 14 with 38 teams competing across Elite and Plate divisions. Defending champions Jharkhand will be looking to retain the title, but the tournament also serves as a stage for players on the fringes of the national setup. Several cricketers who were once regulars in India's white-ball squads find themselves outside the selection picture heading into this edition. Three such names stand out as ones to watch closely over the coming weeks.</p>
<h2>Here are three forgotten India players who can make a comeback through SMAT performances:</h2>
<h3>1. Venkatesh Iyer</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Venkatesh-Iyer-1.jpg" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Venkatesh Iyer (Source: BCCI)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/venkatesh-iyer/"><strong>Venkatesh Iyer</strong></a> last featured in an India squad back in June 2022, when he was picked for a T20I series. His international absence since then has largely been linked to Hardik Pandya's return to full fitness, which squeezed out the Madhya Pradesh all-rounder from the national picture. Iyer's recent red-ball form has been solid, with 367 runs across 6 games for Madhya Pradesh in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy. In IPL 2026, after being released by Kolkata Knight Riders and signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru on December 16, 2025, he averaged 52.25 across 7 matches.</p>
<p>Madhya Pradesh open their SMAT 2026-27 campaign against Kerala on November 14 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Tira. Earlier in his career, Iyer had finished as Madhya Pradesh's top scorer in the 2021-22 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 155 runs at an average of 51.66, and he struck a maiden IPL century of 104 off 51 balls against Mumbai Indians on April 16, 2023.</p>
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<h3>2. Suryakumar Yadav</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1780913799903_Untitled-design---2026-06-08T154610.jpeg" alt="Surya Kumar Yadav" width="800" height="435" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Surya Kumar Yadav (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Mumbai's senior selection committee, headed by Rajesh Pawar, named <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/suryakumar-yadav/"><strong>Suryakumar Yadav </strong></a>as captain of the Mumbai side for SMAT 2026-27, a decision confirmed on November 9, 2026. The right-hander was dropped from India's T20I squad in June 2026 following a dip in form, and the captaincy subsequently moved to Shreyas Iyer. Suryakumar had previously led India to the 2026 T20 World Cup title, making his subsequent omission from the national side a notable development.</p>
<p>Mumbai open their Elite group fixtures against Hyderabad on November 14 at the Jadavpur University Campus 2nd Ground, Kolkata. Suryakumar was left out of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy squad, with Siddhesh Lad leading that side through four consecutive wins. Mumbai have won the SMAT title twice before, in 2022-23 and 2024-25.</p>
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<h3>3. Krunal Pandya</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1768459438998_Krunal-Pandya.jpeg" alt="Krunal Pandya" width="960" height="600" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Krunal Pandya. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/krunal-pandya/"><strong>Krunal Pandya</strong></a>, 35, has not been part of any India white-ball squad since July 2021. Despite that long gap, his back-to-back productive seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru have kept him in the conversation where he claimed 17 wickets for RCB in IPL 2025 and followed that with 14 wickets in IPL 2026. Some observers have noted him as a potential spin all-rounder option alongside or in place of Axar Patel in the national setup.</p>
<p>Krunal captains Baroda in SMAT 2026-27, with Atit Sheth as his vice-captain. Baroda's Elite group campaign begins against Chandigarh on November 14 at the MCA Cricket Ground, Mumbai. Notably, Hardik Pandya is absent from Baroda's squad for this edition, having spent time at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru due to injury. Krunal's consecutive wicket tallies across IPL 2025 and 2026 represent the clearest statistical argument for a fresh look from selectors.</p>

<p>The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026-27, now in its 19th edition, gets underway on November 14 with 38 teams competing across Elite and Plate divisions. Defending champions Jharkhand will be looking to retain the title, but the tournament also serves as a stage for players on the fringes of the national setup. Several cricketers who were once regulars in India's white-ball squads find themselves outside the selection picture heading into this edition. Three such names stand out as ones to watch closely over the coming weeks.</p>
<h2>Here are three forgotten India players who can make a comeback through SMAT performances:</h2>
<h3>1. Venkatesh Iyer</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Venkatesh-Iyer-1.jpg" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Venkatesh Iyer (Source: BCCI)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/venkatesh-iyer/"><strong>Venkatesh Iyer</strong></a> last featured in an India squad back in June 2022, when he was picked for a T20I series. His international absence since then has largely been linked to Hardik Pandya's return to full fitness, which squeezed out the Madhya Pradesh all-rounder from the national picture. Iyer's recent red-ball form has been solid, with 367 runs across 6 games for Madhya Pradesh in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy. In IPL 2026, after being released by Kolkata Knight Riders and signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru on December 16, 2025, he averaged 52.25 across 7 matches.</p>
<p>Madhya Pradesh open their SMAT 2026-27 campaign against Kerala on November 14 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Tira. Earlier in his career, Iyer had finished as Madhya Pradesh's top scorer in the 2021-22 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 155 runs at an average of 51.66, and he struck a maiden IPL century of 104 off 51 balls against Mumbai Indians on April 16, 2023.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>2. Suryakumar Yadav</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1780913799903_Untitled-design---2026-06-08T154610.jpeg" alt="Surya Kumar Yadav" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Surya Kumar Yadav (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Mumbai's senior selection committee, headed by Rajesh Pawar, named <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/suryakumar-yadav/"><strong>Suryakumar Yadav </strong></a>as captain of the Mumbai side for SMAT 2026-27, a decision confirmed on November 9, 2026. The right-hander was dropped from India's T20I squad in June 2026 following a dip in form, and the captaincy subsequently moved to Shreyas Iyer. Suryakumar had previously led India to the 2026 T20 World Cup title, making his subsequent omission from the national side a notable development.</p>
<p>Mumbai open their Elite group fixtures against Hyderabad on November 14 at the Jadavpur University Campus 2nd Ground, Kolkata. Suryakumar was left out of Mumbai's Ranji Trophy squad, with Siddhesh Lad leading that side through four consecutive wins. Mumbai have won the SMAT title twice before, in 2022-23 and 2024-25.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>3. Krunal Pandya</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1768459438998_Krunal-Pandya.jpeg" alt="Krunal Pandya" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Krunal Pandya. (Photo Source: Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/krunal-pandya/"><strong>Krunal Pandya</strong></a>, 35, has not been part of any India white-ball squad since July 2021. Despite that long gap, his back-to-back productive seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru have kept him in the conversation where he claimed 17 wickets for RCB in IPL 2025 and followed that with 14 wickets in IPL 2026. Some observers have noted him as a potential spin all-rounder option alongside or in place of Axar Patel in the national setup.</p>
<p>Krunal captains Baroda in SMAT 2026-27, with Atit Sheth as his vice-captain. Baroda's Elite group campaign begins against Chandigarh on November 14 at the MCA Cricket Ground, Mumbai. Notably, Hardik Pandya is absent from Baroda's squad for this edition, having spent time at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru due to injury. Krunal's consecutive wicket tallies across IPL 2025 and 2026 represent the clearest statistical argument for a fresh look from selectors.</p>

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026-27, now in its 19th edition, gets underway on November 14 with 38 teams competing across Elite and Plate divisions. Defending champions Jharkhand will be looking to re

3 forgotten India players who can revive careers in SMAT

Venkatesh Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav and Krunal Pandya are among the notable names looking to press their case for an India recall through the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026-27.

Check out three forgotten Indian players who could revive their careers and push for a national comeback with strong performances in SMAT 2026, on CricTracker.