Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy reaches Jamshedpur, displayed at Keenan Stadium
Jamshedpur: Fresh from Jharkhand’s historic triumph in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the prestigious trophy reached Jamshedpur on Monday and was formally displayed at the iconic Keenan Stadium. The arrival of the trophy marked a proud moment for cricket lovers in the steel city, symbolising Jharkhand’s growing stature in Indian domestic cricket.
The occasion was graced by D.B. Sundara Ramam, Vice President (Corporate Services), Tata Steel, as the chief guest. Other prominent dignitaries present included Mukul Vinayak Choudhari, Chief Sports, Tata Steel; Saurabh Tiwary, Secretary, JSCA; Rajesh Verma, former JSCA Secretary; Hemant Gupta, Head of Tata Steel Adventure Foundation; Amitava Ghosh, Treasurer, JSCA; D. Uma Rao, JSCA School and Club representative; Captain Manish, Head Sports, Tata Steel; Asim Singh, Secretary, West Singhbhum District Cricket Association; and Govindo Mukherjee, former JSCA Treasurer. Several current JSCA committee members were also present.
Young cricketers from the JJ Irani Cricket Academy enthusiastically welcomed the trophy and captured memorable moments by taking selfies with it. The celebration included a colourful fireworks display and distribution of sweets, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Saurabh Tiwary, along with JSCA members and Tata Steel officials, took a round of the Keenan Stadium and discussed future plans related to infrastructure and cricket development in Jamshedpur.
Speaking to the media, Saurabh Tiwary said Jharkhand’s victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was the result of consistent dominance, fearless cricket, and the players’ belief in their ability.
“In a chase, no team had ever given such a massive target of 263 runs. Full credit goes to the players for achieving something extraordinary,” he said.
Saurabh Tiwary announced that the Jharkhand team has been rewarded handsomely for their remarkable achievement.
“JSCA has announced a cash reward of ₹2 crore for the team. This victory belongs to the players who showed courage, skill, and discipline throughout the tournament,” he stated.
He further informed that Jharkhand’s success has also opened new opportunities for players at the national level.
“Some of our players have been selected for the IPL. Four players were retained, while two players — Sushant and Amit — were picked in the auction. This itself shows the quality of cricket Jharkhand is producing,” Tiwary said.
Highlighting individual contributions, the JSCA Secretary praised the performances of bowlers and all-rounders.
“Sushant took the highest number of wickets in the tournament. Amit also played four to five matches and contributed very well whenever he got the opportunity,” he noted.
According to Tiwary, Jharkhand’s dominance was visible throughout the competition.
“In the entire tournament, Jharkhand dominated. We won seven matches continuously, then eight matches in a row, lost one, and finally won the final. The overall consistency was exceptional,” he said.
When asked about the key mantra given to the team, Saurabh Tiwary said the focus was always on sustained dominance rather than short-term results.
“The mantra was very clear — dominate continuously. Even in the match we lost, the players knew they had to reach a specific target to qualify. They needed 40 runs in the last 30 balls and ensured they reached 185 to stay in contention,” he explained.
He said such situations can sometimes confuse players mentally.
“When players are not used to playing finals regularly, some want to just reach the final first and think about winning later. But our team handled the pressure well,” he added.
Reflecting on the final match, Tiwary confidently stated that Jharkhand had effectively sealed the game much earlier than the end.
“As a secretary, I can say we won the final in the 14th over itself. At that point, our score was 180 for 1. It is not easy to chase such totals in a final,” he said.
He admitted that he initially expected fewer runs in the last six overs.
“I thought we might add only 60 to 70 runs in the final overs. Even then, chasing 200 in a final is extremely difficult. The way our batters accelerated was outstanding,” he said.
While celebrating Jharkhand’s success, Saurabh Tiwary also praised the Haryana team for their performance.
“I give full credit to the Haryana team as well. Six to seven players made their debut in a single season and still managed to reach the final. That is commendable and very rare in domestic cricket,” he said.
Sachin Tendulkar’s Congratulations
In a significant moment, Tiwary revealed that cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar personally congratulated him on Jharkhand’s achievement.
“Sachin Tendulkar called me and congratulated me. He said our committee is doing a very good job. He also shared some thoughts about domestic cricket and said he would speak in detail later,” Tiwary said with pride.
Expressing pride in Jharkhand’s cricketing journey, Tiwary said the entire state is witnessing the transformation.
“We all know Dhoni from Jharkhand, but as a team, reaching finals and winning trophies at this level does not happen often. This victory motivates players across all districts,” he said.
He also mentioned the strong performance of the Jharkhand women’s team.
“Our Under-19 women’s team has qualified unbeaten. On the 28th, they will play the quarter-final against Andhra, and hopefully, they will qualify further,” he added.
When asked about future achievements, Tiwary said his focus as an administrator is not on personal milestones.
“As a secretary, I know only one thing — my job is to provide a good platform to the players. After that, it is the players’ responsibility to use that platform and move forward,” he said.
Drawing a comparison, he added,
“A parent’s job is to admit their child to a good school. After that, it is the child’s responsibility to perform.”
Sharing his long-term vision, Tiwary said JSCA plans to nurture core players across age groups.
“After December, from January onwards, I plan to keep core players of every group in our academy for years. They will practice consistently because only proper facilities and long-term training can ensure future success,” he said.
He emphasised that cricket is no longer seasonal.
“Earlier, we used to say this is the cricket season. Now, cricket is played throughout the year. The demands of modern cricket have completely changed,” he noted.
Saurabh Tiwary strongly acknowledged the support extended by Tata Steel towards cricket in Jamshedpur.
“Ever since I have been interacting with Sundara Ramam sir, I have never been denied support. Tata’s backing is crucial for cricket in Jamshedpur,” he said.
He mentioned that Jharkhand teams are now able to play matches at multiple venues.
“We are playing matches at Keenan, TGS, and even Tata Motors grounds. In a city like Jamshedpur, such support is essential because developing new grounds takes a lot of time,” he added.
Talking about Jharkhand’s Ranji Trophy campaign, Tiwary urged patience with the young team.
“One-day cricket and four-day cricket are completely different formats. Our young team will take time to mature, and we must give them that time,” he said.
He criticised the tendency to judge teams too quickly.
“We lost one match against Andhra, but before that, we were second and close to qualifying. One or two matches should not define a team,” he said.
Focus on Process, Not Just Results
Highlighting the importance of process over results, Tiwary said: “Sometimes you play well and lose, sometimes you play badly and win. What matters is maintaining your brand of cricket. If your process is right, success will follow.”
He also spoke about giving players opportunities across formats gradually.
“Earlier, if a player performed well, we used to play him in all three formats in one season. Now, players need to earn their place step by step. That helps them understand the value of performance,” he said.
Trophy to Tour Districts
Saurabh Tiwary announced that the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will be taken across Jharkhand to inspire young cricketers.
“From the 26th or 27th, the trophy will go to almost every district. When players see the trophy up close, they feel motivated and believe that they can also achieve this level,” he said.
