The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026 schedule has been released, with India’s premier domestic T20 tournament set to run across November and December 2026. Organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the championship features 38 domestic state teams divided across five Elite Groups competing in a single round-robin group stage followed by a high-stakes knockout phase.
A total of 38 teams will compete across 136 matches. The group stage features intense round-robin fixtures hosted simultaneously across designated hub cities, culminating in the Pre-Quarter Finals, Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals, and the Grand Final at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens.
The tournament gets underway with marquee fixtures including defending champions Punjab taking on Delhi at the PCA Stadium in Mohali, and powerhouses Mumbai squaring off against Maharashtra at the Wankhede Stadium. All match timings are displayed in Indian Standard Time (IST).
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026 Tournament Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026 (SMAT 2026) |
| Governing Body | Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) |
| Format | Twenty20 (T20) |
| Host Country | India |
| Total Teams | 38 State & Union Territory Teams |
| Group Structure | 5 Elite Groups (Groups A, B, C, D, E) |
| Total Matches | 136 Matches (126 League Matches + 10 Knockouts) |
| League Matches per Team | 7 Matches |
| Tournament Start Date | 14 November 2026 |
| Tournament Final Date | 6 December 2026 |
| Defending Champion | Punjab |
| Most Successful Team | Tamil Nadu (3 Titles) |
| Live Streaming Platform | JioCinema (App & Website) |
| TV Broadcast Channel | Sports18 Network (Sports18 1 & Sports18 Khel) |
| Key Venues | Mumbai, Bengaluru, Mohali, Rajkot, Kolkata |
| Final Match Venue | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026 Schedule & Fixtures
Tournament Match Center (November 2026)
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Opening Rounds • Full Fixture Schedule
MUM Mumbai
MUM
MAH Maharashtra
MAH
KAR Karnataka
KAR
TN Tamil Nadu
TN
DEL Delhi
DEL
PUN Punjab
PUN
BAR Baroda
BAR
SAU Saurashtra
SAU
BEN Bengal
BEN
HYD Hyderabad
HYD
GOA Goa
GOA
MEG Meghalaya
MEG
RAJ Rajasthan
RAJ
VID Vidarbha
VID
UP Uttar Pradesh
UP
KER Kerala
KER
HAR Haryana
HAR
HP Himachal Pradesh
HP
GUJ Gujarat
GUJ
RLY Railways
RLY
MP Madhya Pradesh
MP
ASM Assam
ASM
BIH Bihar
BIH
MAN Manipur
MAN
MUM Mumbai
MUM
RAJ Rajasthan
RAJ
KAR Karnataka
KAR
KER Kerala
KER
PUN Punjab
PUN
HAR Haryana
HAR
SAU Saurashtra
SAU
GUJ Gujarat
GUJ
Below is the confirmed fixture schedule for the opening rounds of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026. The morning matches begin at 09:00 AM IST, while the afternoon matches commence at 01:30 PM IST.
| Match No. | Date | Fixture | Group | Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nov 14, 2026 | Mumbai vs Maharashtra | Elite Group A | 09:00 AM | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| 2 | Nov 14, 2026 | Karnataka vs Tamil Nadu | Elite Group B | 01:30 PM | M. Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru |
| 3 | Nov 15, 2026 | Delhi vs Punjab | Elite Group C | 09:00 AM | PCA Stadium, Mohali |
| 4 | Nov 15, 2026 | Baroda vs Saurashtra | Elite Group D | 01:30 PM | SCA Stadium, Rajkot |
| 5 | Nov 16, 2026 | Bengal vs Hyderabad | Elite Group E | 09:00 AM | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 6 | Nov 16, 2026 | Goa vs Meghalaya | Plate Group | 01:30 PM | Narendra Modi Stadium B, Ahmedabad |
| 7 | Nov 17, 2026 | Rajasthan vs Vidarbha | Elite Group A | 09:00 AM | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| 8 | Nov 17, 2026 | Uttar Pradesh vs Kerala | Elite Group B | 01:30 PM | M. Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru |
| 9 | Nov 18, 2026 | Haryana vs Himachal Pradesh | Elite Group C | 09:00 AM | PCA Stadium, Mohali |
| 10 | Nov 18, 2026 | Gujarat vs Railways | Elite Group D | 01:30 PM | SCA Stadium, Rajkot |
| 11 | Nov 19, 2026 | Madhya Pradesh vs Assam | Elite Group E | 09:00 AM | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 12 | Nov 19, 2026 | Bihar vs Manipur | Plate Group | 01:30 PM | Narendra Modi Stadium B, Ahmedabad |
| 13 | Nov 20, 2026 | Mumbai vs Rajasthan | Elite Group A | 09:00 AM | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| 14 | Nov 20, 2026 | Karnataka vs Kerala | Elite Group B | 01:30 PM | M. Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru |
| 15 | Nov 21, 2026 | Punjab vs Haryana | Elite Group C | 09:00 AM | PCA Stadium, Mohali |
| 16 | Nov 21, 2026 | Saurashtra vs Gujarat | Elite Group D | 01:30 PM | SCA Stadium, Rajkot |
Knockout Stage Schedule (Pre-Quarters to Final)
Following the conclusion of the group stage, the top teams advance into the knockout bracket. The Pre-Quarter Finals feature runner-up playoff clashes, with the winners joining group toppers in the Quarter Finals.
| Knockout Stage | Date | Fixture | Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Quarter Final 1 | Nov 30, 2026 | TBD vs TBD | 09:00 AM | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Pre-Quarter Final 2 | Nov 30, 2026 | TBD vs TBD | 01:30 PM | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Pre-Quarter Final 3 | Dec 01, 2026 | TBD vs TBD | 09:00 AM | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Quarter Final 1 | Dec 02, 2026 | TBD vs TBD | 09:00 AM | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Quarter Final 2 | Dec 02, 2026 | TBD vs TBD | 01:30 PM | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Quarter Final 3 | Dec 03, 2026 | TBD vs TBD | 09:00 AM | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Quarter Final 4 | Dec 03, 2026 | TBD vs TBD | 01:30 PM | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Semi Final 1 | Dec 04, 2026 | Winner QF1 vs Winner QF2 | 01:30 PM | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Semi Final 2 | Dec 05, 2026 | Winner QF3 vs Winner QF4 | 01:30 PM | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| Grand Final | Dec 06, 2026 | Semi Final 1 Winner vs Semi Final 2 Winner | 07:00 PM | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026 Format Explained
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy employs a structured multi-tier format designed to evaluate teams through league consistency and knockout resilience:
1. League Stage (Single Round-Robin)
The 38 participating teams are allocated into 5 Elite Groups (Groups A, B, C, D, and E). Each team plays every other team in its group once in a single round-robin structure. With groups comprising 7 to 8 teams, each side is guaranteed a minimum of 7 matches during the league phase.
2. Pre-Quarter Finals
The group winners of each of the 5 Elite Groups directly earn a spot in the Quarter Finals. The second-placed teams and the best third-placed side contest three Pre-Quarter Final matches to secure the remaining three Quarter Final berths.
3. Quarter Finals, Semifinals, and Final
The final eight teams play single-elimination knockout matches across four Quarter Finals, followed by two Semi-Finals and the Grand Final under floodlights.
How Many Matches Are in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026?
There are a total of 136 matches played throughout the tournament. This includes 126 group stage league matches, 3 Pre-Quarter Finals, 4 Quarter Finals, 2 Semi-Finals, and 1 Grand Final. Matches are scheduled at 09:00 AM IST and 01:30 PM IST during the day, with the final hosted as an evening game at 07:00 PM IST.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Where will the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2026 Final be played?
The 2026 Grand Final will be held under floodlights at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
What time do Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches start?
Morning fixtures typically commence at 09:00 AM IST or 11:00 AM IST, while afternoon and evening matches begin at 04:30 PM IST or 07:00 PM IST.
Who are the defending champions?
Punjab won their maiden Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title in recent editions, defeating Baroda in a thrilling final.
How many total matches are played in the tournament?
A total of 136 matches are contested across the tournament, encompassing 126 group league games and 10 knockout fixtures.