Top Players With Most Runs In Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (Updated 2026)

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy doesn’t get the headlines. It doesn’t get prime-time slots or Instagram reels. But this is where real cricketers are made. Before IPL contracts, before international caps, before fame and fortune, there’s this tournament. Domestic T20 cricket. State pride. Hotel rooms. Early morning practice sessions. And the constant pressure to perform, because one bad season can end everything.

This is where batsmen prove they’re not just one- or two-match wonders. Where consistent performance matters more than a viral six. Where playing season after season, tournament after tournament, truly counts. The highest run-scorers in the history of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy aren’t always household names. But they should be. Because these are the men who have earned their place through sheer hard work. Match after match. Year after year. Without the limelight. Without the hype. Just pure cricket. These are the ten legends who have scored the most runs in the history of this tournament.

1. Harpreet Singh (2,968 Runs)

Harpreet Singh is at the top with 2,968 runs. Just think about that. Almost 3,000 runs in T20 cricket. In domestic T20 cricket. Where the pitches change, the teams change, the pressure is constant, and one bad season can end your career. But Harpreet Singh just kept playing. 100 matches for Central Zone, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh. That’s the kind of consistency you can’t replicate. It’s about playing every season, every tournament, and performing well when your team needs you.

What makes it even more impressive? He did it all without any of the limelight. No IPL millions, no prime-time coverage, no social media hype. Just pure domestic grind. Opening the batting, setting the tone, giving his team a solid start. Match after match. In Indian cricket, we idolize the IPL stars. We should be idolizing people like Harpreet Singh too. Because this is real consistency. This is the backbone of Indian cricket that nobody talks about at dinner parties.

2. Virat Singh (2,799 Runs)

Virat Singh has scored 2,799 runs in 94 matches playing for East Zone and Jharkhand. Just one run short of 2,800, and frankly, that must sting a little. But let’s focus on what matters. This player is second on the all-time list. Singh is the reliable middle-order batsman every T20 team dreams of. He doesn’t showboat, he doesn’t try to hit sixes off every ball, but while others are trying to be the hero, he quietly keeps accumulating runs. When the top order fails, he steadies the ship. When they succeed, he accelerates the scoring rate.

94 matches is a lot of cricket. That’s years of domestic seasons, years of hotel rooms, years of hoping for that one big break. And through it all, Virat Singh just kept scoring runs. That’s his character. That’s his dedication to the game.

3. Manan Vohra (2,386 Runs)

Manan Vohra. 2,386 runs in just 78 matches for Chandigarh and Punjab. Now do the math. That’s a phenomenal average number of runs per match. Vohra is an explosive player. When he’s in form, bowling attacks look helpless. He possesses the power, timing, and range of shots that make T20 cricket so exciting. And he’s done this consistently in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which isn’t some club tournament. This is quality domestic cricket.

What’s the sad part? Such talent should get more opportunities in the IPL, more national recognition. But Indian cricket is incredibly competitive. Fifty Manan Vohras are competing for ten spots. That’s just how it is. Unfair? Perhaps. The reality? Absolutely. Nevertheless, 2,386 runs is a legacy. When people read the history of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Manan Vohra’s name will be there. In the top three. Always.

4. Mayank Agarwal (2,332 Runs)

Mayank Agarwal has scored 2,332 runs in 85 matches for Karnataka and South Zone. Finally, a name that most cricket fans recognize. Mayank is proof that domestic cricket matters. His performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was part of the journey that led him to the Indian Test team. You can’t just wake up one day and open the batting for India. You hone your skills in these tournaments.

Mayank’s strength lies in his adaptability. Test cricket, ODIs, T20s. He has scored runs everywhere. But he has never forgotten where he came from: domestic cricket, state pride. He represented Karnataka with all his heart. 2,332 runs is not just a number. It’s the result of years of hard work, discipline, and proving himself against those hungry domestic bowlers every season who want to end your career.

5. Tanmay Agarwal (2,296 Runs)

Tanmay Agarwal has scored 2,296 runs in 82 matches for Hyderabad and the South Zone. Another unsung hero in the story of Indian domestic cricket. Tanmay is an opener who understands T20 cricket well. You have to score quickly, yes, but you also have to give your team a solid start. You can’t just hit blindly and hope for the best. There’s a method to the madness.

And Tanmay has that method. Match after match, he has given Hyderabad a strong start. He has played the role required of him for his team, whether it’s playing aggressively or cautiously. That kind of adaptability is rarely seen. 82 matches, 2,296 runs. That’s a career to be proud of. Not everyone gets the chance to play for India. But anyone who loves cricket should respect these kinds of numbers.

6. Kedar Devdhar (2,282 Runs)

Kedar Devdhar. 2,282 runs in 80 matches for Baroda. Quietly sitting at number six on the all-time list, perhaps not getting the recognition he deserves.

Devdhar is the kind of experienced player every domestic team values. He has seen it all. Pressure chases, defending low totals, playing on difficult wickets, handling aggressive fielding. And he has overcome it all. What sets him apart is his consistency. 80 matches, 2,282 runs. That’s an average of almost 30 runs per match in T20 cricket. Comparatively, that’s excellent. Truly excellent.

Baroda has produced some fantastic cricketers over the years. Kedar Devdhar may not be the most famous, but his Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy record makes him one of the best.

7. Nitish Rana (2,254 Runs)

Nitish Rana has scored 2,254 runs in 91 matches for Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. He is one of those players who have successfully bridged the gap between domestic and IPL cricket. Rana is aggressive, fearless, and thrives on playing on the big stage. His domestic performances caught the attention of IPL franchises, and he seized the opportunity with both hands. But before earning millions in the IPL, he had to work hard in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Playing 91 matches is a significant achievement. It means proudly representing your state, knowing that every innings can change your life. And that’s exactly what happened with Nitish Rana. His story should inspire every domestic cricketer. Keep performing, keep believing, keep playing. Opportunities will surely come.

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