The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has become one of India’s most important domestic T20 competitions, producing several outstanding wicket-takers over the years. Unlike a single-season leaderboard, an all-time list rewards bowlers who have maintained their effectiveness across multiple editions. The latest completed 2025–26 season also changed the picture at the top, with Jaydev Unadkat adding to his tally and Chama Milind making a significant move up the charts.
List of Top 10 Players With Most Wickets in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
| Rank | Player | Team | SMAT Matches | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jaydev Unadkat | Saurashtra | 87 | 128 |
| 2 | Chama Milind | Hyderabad | 82 | 121 |
| 3 | Siddarth Kaul | Punjab | 87 | 120 |
| 4 | Piyush Chawla | Gujarat/Uttar Pradesh | 89 | 113 |
| 5 | Lukman Meriwala | Baroda | 70 | 108 |
| 6 | Aniket Choudhary | Rajasthan | 78 | 102 |
| 7 | Rishi Dhawan | Himachal Pradesh | 90 | 91 |
| 8 | Atit Sheth | Baroda | 68 | 91 |
| 9 | Amit Mishra | Haryana | 75 | 87 |
| 10 | Cheepurapalli Stephen | Andhra Pradesh | 49 | 84 |
Here are the Top 10 with most wickets in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
1. Jaydev Unadkat
Jaydev Unadkat is now the leading name among the players with most wickets in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He surpassed Siddarth Kaul’s long-standing record of 120 wickets on November 30, 2025, when he dismissed Delhi captain Nitish Rana while playing for Saurashtra. That wicket took Unadkat to 121 wickets.
Unadkat subsequently added further wickets during the 2025–26 campaign, finishing the season with 12 wickets in seven matches. His consistency, left-arm angle and ability to control the scoring rate have made him one of the most reliable bowlers in Indian domestic T20 cricket.
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2. Chama Milind
Chama Milind has been one of Hyderabad’s most dependable bowlers and has climbed to second place among the players with most wickets in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His career tally reached 121 wickets after another productive 2025–26 campaign.
Milind picked up 17 wickets in nine matches during the latest season, including best figures of 3/25. His overall T20 bowling record listed by ESPNcricinfo includes 121 wickets, with an economy rate of 7.52 and a best of 5/8.
3. Siddarth Kaul
Siddarth Kaul previously held the record for the most wickets in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The Punjab pacer finished his career with 120 wickets from 87 matches, including five four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul.
His best bowling performance in the competition was 5/12. Kaul’s ability to bowl effectively at the death made him a particularly valuable T20 bowler throughout his domestic career.
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4. Piyush Chawla
Piyush Chawla occupies fourth place among the players with most wickets in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The experienced leg-spinner has taken 113 wickets in the competition, having represented Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh during his domestic career.
Chawla’s biggest strength has been his ability to attack batters in the middle overs. His variations, flight and experience have helped him remain a dangerous T20 bowler for many years.
5. Lukman Meriwala
Lukman Meriwala is another left-arm pacer who has built an impressive record among the players with most wickets in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He has taken 108 wickets in the competition, with his best figures listed as 5/8.
Meriwala has traditionally been effective with the new ball, using his angle and movement to trouble top-order batters. His ability to strike early has been a major part of his domestic T20 success.
6. Aniket Choudhary
Aniket Choudhary has been a long-serving left-arm seamer for Rajasthan and remains among the players with most wickets in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His historical tally stands at 102 wickets from 78 matches.
His best bowling figures are 4/30, and his career has been built around accuracy, changes of pace and the ability to bowl difficult overs. Choudhary’s experience has made him a valuable domestic performer.
7. Rishi Dhawan
Rishi Dhawan’s all-round abilities made him a regular contributor for Himachal Pradesh, and his wicket tally puts him among the players with most wickets in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Dhawan entered the 2024–25 season with 89 wickets and added two more during that campaign. He later announced his retirement from Indian white-ball cricket in January 2025. His wider T20 career ended with 118 wickets from 135 matches.
8. Atit Sheth
Atit Sheth has been a consistent bowling option for Baroda and features among the players with most wickets in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His historical tally was 86 wickets before the 2025–26 season, and he added five wickets during that campaign.
Sheth has also contributed with the bat, giving Baroda the benefit of a genuine all-round option. His ability to break partnerships has been particularly useful in the middle overs.
9. Amit Mishra
Veteran leg-spinner Amit Mishra remains among the players with most wickets in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, having collected 87 wickets from 75 matches. His best figures in the tournament were 5/19.
Mishra’s career has been built on variation and control. His experience across domestic and international cricket allowed him to read batting situations well and attack at the right moments.
10. Cheepurapalli Stephen
Cheepurapalli Stephen completes the Top 10 Players With Most Wickets in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The Andhra left-arm medium pacer has been a consistent domestic performer and previously recorded 84 wickets in the competition.
Stephen’s left-arm angle and ability to maintain pressure have been key parts of his bowling style. His career has largely been associated with Andhra cricket, where he has remained an experienced bowling option.
Conclusion
The updated Top 10 Players With Most Wickets in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy shows how important longevity and consistency are in domestic T20 cricket. Jaydev Unadkat’s rise to the top is the biggest development, as he moved beyond Siddarth Kaul’s previous record of 120 wickets.
Chama Milind’s strong 2025–26 season also pushed him into second place, while Piyush Chawla, Lukman Meriwala and Aniket Choudhary remain among the tournament’s most successful wicket-takers. The list demonstrates how the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has rewarded bowlers who can adapt their skills across different conditions and seasons.
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FAQs
1. Who has taken the most wickets in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy?
Jaydev Unadkat is the latest record-holder. He surpassed Siddarth Kaul’s previous record of 120 wickets during the 2025–26 tournament.
2. How many wickets did Siddarth Kaul take in SMAT?
Siddarth Kaul finished his Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy career with 120 wickets from 87 matches.
3. When was the latest Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy completed?
The 2025–26 edition ran from November 26 to December 18, 2025, with Jharkhand winning their maiden title by defeating Haryana in the final.
