Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026: Mayank, Shreyas left out of Karnataka squad; Manish Pandey returns
Manish Pandey makes a Karnataka comeback after two years as Mayank Agarwal and Shreyas Gopal are rested.
Karnataka have named a T20 squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Mumbai. Mayank Agarwal and Shreyas Gopal are out, while Manish Pandey returns.
Key takeaways
- Mayank Agarwal and Shreyas Gopal left out of Karnataka squad
- Manish Pandey returns to senior side after two years
- Tournament will be held in Mumbai later this month
Karnataka have left out senior batters Mayank Agarwal and Shreyas Gopal from their squad for the upcoming T20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which will be held in Mumbai later this month. Veteran batter Manish Pandey returns to Karnataka’s senior side after two years. Pandey had earlier been named in the probables alongside Mayank and Shreyas. State chief selector Amit Verma said Mayank and Shreyas had been rested to accommodate youngsters.
Why it matters
Shreyas Gopal led Karnataka in its last two victorious Ranji Trophy outings as a stand-in skipper. Mayank Agarwal had a disappointing run in the previous edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring 135 runs in seven outings.
Shreyas managed just 25 runs and claimed five wickets with his leg-spin. Amit Verma told Sportstar on Friday that it was a tough call but the selectors had to accommodate youngsters like Aneeshwar Gautam and Rohan Patil.
He added that Karnataka does have senior batters in Manish Pandey and Karun Nair.
What happens next
Amit Verma said Mayank Agarwal and Shreyas Gopal would be included in Karnataka’s Vijay Hazare Trophy 50-over squad. Amit Verma said Manvanth Kumar is the perfect candidate for a fast-bowling all-rounder, which is a rare commodity, and said hopefully he can do well in this tournament and bag an IPL contract.
Context
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is a domestic Twenty20 cricket championship in India organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
It is named after former Test cricketer Syed Mushtaq Ali, a right-handed opening batsman who scored the first overseas Test century by an Indian player when he made 112 against England at Old Trafford in 1936. Mushtaq Ali received the C. K.
Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995, the highest honour bestowed by the BCCI on a former player. The 2025–26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was the 18th edition of the tournament.
It took place from 26 November to 18 December 2025 and featured all 38 teams from the Ranji Trophy, divided into four elite groups of eight teams each and one plate group comprising six teams.
The tournament was part of the 2025–26 Indian domestic cricket season, as announced by the BCCI in 2025. Mumbai were the defending champions.
Karnataka squad selection details
Player | Status | Recent record |
|---|---|---|
Mayank Agarwal | Left out | 135 runs in seven previous Syed Mushtaq Ali outings |
Shreyas Gopal | Left out | 25 runs and five wickets in previous edition |
Manish Pandey | Returns | Comeback after two years |
Related on Apex Sports News
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi appointed Bihar captain for first two Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy games
Ranji Trophy: Karnataka Extend Lead vs Assam; Vidarbha in Command Against Madhya Pradesh
Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Nagwaswalla, Chintan put Gujarat firmly in command against Kerala
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