The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is heating up as Haryana (HAR) takes on Jharkhand (JHA) at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. Both teams have been in terrific form recently, with Jharkhand winning four of their last five and Haryana coming off a massive victory where they posted a mammoth 246 runs. This contest promises fireworks, especially with some big Indian domestic names taking the field.
Match Details
- Series: Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
- Venue: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
- Date & Time: Dec 18, 2025, 11:00 AM IST
Weather & Pitch Report
Weather Forecast: Indore in December offers perfect cricketing conditions. Expect a sunny day with temperatures hovering around 22°C to 26°C. There is no chance of rain, so we should get a full game. Since this is a day match starting at 11 AM, the dew factor will be minimal, keeping the contest even for both innings.
Pitch Analysis: Holkar Stadium is a batter's paradise. The boundaries are relatively small, and the surface is flat.
- Average Score: The venue averages 174 runs in the last 5 matches, but Haryana recently smashed 246 here.
- Pace vs Spin: Pacers have been more successful, taking 38 wickets compared to 16 by spinners in recent games. However, quality wrist spinners can still make an impact in the middle overs.
Team Analysis: Jharkhand (JHA)
Jharkhand has been a dominant force, winning 4 of their last 5 games. Their batting lineup is arguably one of the best in the tournament.
- The Ishan Kishan Show: The wicket keeper batter is in the form of his life, smashing 416 runs in the series with a fantasy average of 104 points. He is a default captaincy choice.
- Solid Middle Order: Virat Singh (380 runs) and Kumar Kushagra (341 runs) provide immense stability and firepower.
- Bowling: Sushant Mishra leads the pace attack with 5 wickets in the series. Anukul Roy offers great all round value with his left arm spin and handy batting.
Team Analysis: Haryana (HRYNA)
Haryana is playing at home and knows these conditions well. They crushed Hyderabad in their last outing by over 100 runs.
- Top Order Power: While the stats sheet shows mixed numbers, recent match logs highlight Ankit Kumar's brilliance (scores of 89 and 60 recently). Yashvardhan Dalal and Arsh Ranga are also key contributors.
- All Rounder Depth: Nishant Sindhu is a fantasy gem, contributing 252 runs and 4 wickets in the series. Samant Jakhar has also been impressive with 6 wickets and decent runs.
- Bowling Attack: Anshul Kamboj (5 wickets) and the experienced Yuzvendra Chahal (4 wickets) form a lethal combo. Chahal's experience at this high scoring venue will be crucial.
Key Players to Watch
Ishan Kishan He is averaging over 100 fantasy points per game. On a flat Holkar deck, he could be devastating in the powerplay.
Nishant Sindhu A complete package for your fantasy team. He bats in the middle order and bowls crucial overs of spin, giving you points from both departments.
Anshul Kamboj The pacer has been consistent with the ball. With the pitch offering more assistance to pacers than spinners, he is a vital pick.
Virat Singh Consistent and reliable. If the openers fall early, Virat Singh is the man who anchors the innings and accelerates at the death.
Samant Jakhar Coming off a great performance, Jakhar offers high value. He scored 60 runs in the last match and has been picking up wickets regularly.
Captaincy & Vice Captaincy Picks
- Safe Captain: Ishan Kishan, Nishant Sindhu
- Vice Captain: Virat Singh, Anshul Kamboj
- Differential/Risky: Samant Jakhar, Yuzvendra Chahal
Probable Lineup Notes
- Jharkhand: Likely to stick with their winning combination despite the narrow loss to Andhra. Ishan Kishan and Virat Singh are locked in.
- Haryana: After scoring 246 in the last game, they are unlikely to tinker with the batting order. Ankit Kumar and Samant Jakhar are key names on the team sheet.
Disclaimer: Fantasy cricket involves an element of risk. Please play responsibly and select your teams based on your own research and skills.