Chance For Budding Twenty20 Stars to Shine in Syed Mushtaq Ali Super League

Baroda's hard-hitting all-rounder Hardik Pandya would be among budding Twenty20 stars eager to grab the attention of India senior team selectors when the Syed Mushtaq Ali Super League commences on Friday.(Barinder Sran and Hardik Pandya: Who Are They?)

Pandya, who has already earned a spot in the Indian team to take on Australia later this month in a series of T20 Internationals, smashed 34 runs in an over from Delhi seamer Akash Sudan on his way to a whirlwind 81 off 51 balls with six sixes and five fours in the preliminary round tie at the Reliance Stadium in Baroda. (Irfan Pathan, Hardik Pandya Help Baroda Tounce Madhya Pradesh)

Though Delhi won the game, Baroda - who had won the title twice in the last four editions - too qualified for the Super Eights and have been placed in Group A along with hosts Mumbai, Kerala and Vidarbha.

Pandya, who grabbed eyeballs playing for Mumbai Indians in last year's Indian Premier League (IPL), has enhanced his reputation and he would be keen to keep up his impressive performances in front of the selectors. (IPL 8: Pandya-Pollard Help Mumbai Stun Kolkata in Thriller)

This tournament has gained added importance, coming ahead of the India-Australia T20 series Down Under to be followed by the Asia Cup T20 competition in Bangladesh and the World T20 Championship to be hosted by India in March-April.

Outstanding displays in this tournament could gain the performers tickets to the 'Big League' in T20.

Delhi, led by Gautam Ghambir, have been placed in Group B along with defending champions Gujarat, who had won the crown in 2012-13 as well, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.

All Group A games are to be played at the Wankhede Stadium, which means hosts and 40-time Ranji champions Mumbai - gunning for their first T20 title like Delhi - will be playing in their home ground.

All Group B matches are scheduled at the MCA's Sharad Pawar Academy ground at the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC).

Vidarbha take on Baroda in the opening Group A game Friday at the Wankhede Stadium, while on the same day Gujarat clash with Delhi in the Group B opener at the BKC ground.

Friday's second Group A match pits Kerala, with some exciting players like Sanju Samson in their ranks, against Mumbai, who have some top stroke-makers in Shreyas Iyer, skipper Aditya Tare and Suryakumar Yadav.

The second Group B game at the BKC ground will see Jharkhand taking on a strong Uttar Pradesh outfit.

The tournament schedule:

Group A (Wankhede Stadium):

Jan 15: Vidarbha v Baroda (9 AM); Kerala v Mumbai (1:00 PM).

Jan 16: Kerala v Baroda (9:00 AM); Vidarbha v Mumbai (1:00 PM).

Jan 18: Vidarbha v Kerala (9:00 AM); Baroda v Mumbai (1.00 PM).

Group B (BKC ground):

Jan 15: Gujarat v Delhi (9:00 AM); Jharkhand v UPCA (1:00 PM).

Jan 16: Jharkhand v Delhi (9:00 AM); Gujarat v UPCA (1:00 PM).

Jan 18: Gujarat v Jharkhand (9:00 AM); Delhi v UPCA (1:00 PM).

Jan 20: Final: Group A winners v Group B winners, Wankhede Stadium (6:30 PM).