Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021: Top 5 batters to watch out for

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is set to commence from Thursday (November 4), kickstarting the 2021-22 men's domestic season. The competition will feature India's domestic teams fighting it out for the coveted title across six different groups - five Elite and one Plate group.

Tamil Nadu head into the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021 as the defending champions and one of the favourites for the title. The other contenders are Karnataka, Delhi, Mumbai and Punjab. Last year's runner-up Baroda, too, would be keen on going a step further and clinching the trophy this time around.

A format as volatile as T20 is considered to be a batter's game. Needless to say, this edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy too will have a lot hinging on how the batters fare. They will need to demonstrate their adaptability on different surfaces as well as the ability to play spin through the middle overs on two-paced tracks.

During the tournament, many batters will be monitored by scouts. The timing of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy gives the players an opportunity to have a breakout campaign ahead of the 2022 IPL mega auction. A strong showing would catapult a few more talented names into the auction.

On that note, here's a look at five such batters in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to watch out for:

---

#5 Rajat Patidar

Rajit Patidar got a first taste of the IPL this year, playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (Picture Credits: Deepak Malik/Sportzpics/IPL)

Madhya Pradesh's top-order batter Rajat Patidar enjoyed a fruitful campaign in the 2020-21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The right-hander accumulated 221 runs at an average of 44.2 and an outstanding strike rate of 153.47. He scored three half-centuries, including a best score of 96, which demonstrated his consistency during the campaign.

He followed that up by a maiden IPL contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the 2021 season. Patidar made quite an impression during the intra-squad practise matches ahead of the tournament. He then went on to feature in quite a few games during the India leg. He was often used as a floater, walking out to bat at number 3 at the fall of an early wicket.

Patidar couldn't quite light up the tournament, and didn't feature at all in the UAE leg of the IPL. But game against spin makes him an exciting prospect to watch out for. With an overall T20 strike-rate of 140.25, he has certainly shown signs of being able to pack a punch in the format.

Another strong showing in the upcoming edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy could boost his chances of securing another IPL contract. After all, acceleration in the middle overs is crucial to the success of a T20 outfit. Patidar has the opportunity to give a good account of himself in that regard, come the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

---

#4 Karun Nair

Considering his experience, Karun Nair's inclusion in this list might come as a bit of a surprise. Yet, such has been the story of his career that he finds himself at crossroads. And the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy might just allow him to resurrect his career.

The Karnataka batter, who has played six Tests and has a triple-hundred against his name, was a part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2021. However, he was confined to the bench, with younger batters like Rahul Tripathi and Venkatesh Iyer given a go instead.

The current Karnataka squad boasts batters like Mayank Agarwal, Devdutt Padikkal, Rohan Kadam and Manish Pandey. That means Karun Nair might well bat at 5 or below come the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021. Considering the value an Indian finishing option brings to an IPL side, it could well be a challenge and an opportunity of a different kind for Nair.

Nair comes with vast experience under his belt, and for a player of his class, a new role could spark a second coming for him. A strong showing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy could send a message to teams that he remains a potent force as a batter.

#3 B Sai Sudarshan

B Sai Sudarshan been named in the defending champions' squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021. But he is yet to play a game in any format of the game. Yet there is palpable excitement around what this left-handed top-order batter from Tamil Nadu would bring to the fore.

Sudarshan created ripples at the divisional level. and was talked up highly by a certain Ravichandran Ashwin in his YouTube channel. Sudarshan was also a part of the Chennai Super Kings' school program - the Junior Super Kings - where he enjoyed a lot of success.

One can see why the left-hander is rated highly, as he tore into bowling attacks in the Tamil Nadu Premier League earlier this year.

Batting at number 3 for Dindigul Dragons, Sudarshan showed skill, grit and panache in the tournament. He accumulated 358 runs at an average of 71.6 and a strike rate of 143.77. Adept against both pace and spin, Sudarshan could well be handed his T20 cap for Tamil Nadu in their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament opener against Maharashtra.

Should Sai Sudarshan light up the competition again, an IPL contract for the 20-year old may not be a far-fetched proposition. A solid domestic season could just pave the way for the same.

---

#2 Vishnu Solanki

Baroda's Vishnu Solanki broke the internet when he pulled off a stunning heist in the quarter-final of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020-21. With Baroda needing 15 runs off the last three deliveries against Haryana, Solanki clubbed a six either side of a boundary to seal their semi-final spot in sensational fashion. The last shot was a disdainful helicopter hit that went soaring over long-on.

With an average of 53.4 and a strike rate of 128.36, Solanki ended his 2020-21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign with 267 runs. Despite his efforts on largely sluggish surfaces, he couldn't fetch a deal in the IPL player auction ahead of the 2021 season.

Nevertheless, for a player who bats at the top of the order and hits a long ball, Solanki has a shot at upping his stakes even higher. From his and Baroda's point of view in the competition, another solid season could make it difficult for scouts to ignore him this time around.

Given that there is a team from Ahmedabad as well representing the state of Gujarat, a contract with an IPL team could well be in the offing for Solanki.

---

#1 Narayan Jagadeesan

A prolific run-getter and a neat wicketkeeper, Narayan Jagadeesan has been a part of the IPL in the last four seasons. However, with MS Dhoni donning the gloves at the Chennai Super Kings, opportunities have been difficult to come by for the right-handed batter from Coimbatore.

Jagadeesan topped the charts in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2020-21, and was key in Tamil Nadu winning the title. While his 364 runs did not necessarily come as a surprise, the hallmark of his season was his strike rate of 141.08. For someone who would usually be classified as a touch player with the bat, Jagadeesan cleared the fence at will, hitting as many as 17 sixes throughout the competition.

With MS Dhoni in the twilight of his IPL career, there is every chance that Jagadeesan could be the legend's heir apparent at CSK. He sits right up there among the brightest young talents in the country, especially among wicketkeeper batters, and should generate a lot of interest in the IPL mega auction this time around.

Jagadeesan will be the vice-captain of his team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021. He will don the gloves this time around, with Dinesh Karthik missing out due to injury. Another big season on the cards for the right-hander?