New Delhi, September 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad batter Salil Arora has set his sights on the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Indian Premier League as he continues to pursue his “dream” of earning a call-up to the Indian team.
The 23-year-old wicketkeeper-batter is currently representing Ludhiana Lions in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League and has emerged as one of the promising young batters in Punjab cricket.
Arora enjoyed a breakthrough 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign, finishing as Punjab’s leading run-scorer with 358 runs in eight innings. His standout performance came against Jharkhand, when he smashed an unbeaten 125 off just 45 balls.
His performances in the domestic T20 tournament earned him an IPL contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the 2026 season. Although his opportunities were limited, Arora made an impact in the death overs, including a blistering 30 off 10 deliveries.
Rather than dwelling on his previous performances, Arora is focused on building another strong campaign and using it as a stepping stone towards the national team.
“Yes, I see the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as a strong opportunity. I want to perform there and then go to the IPL. And then I want to perform in the IPL and play for the Indian team. This is my dream and my goal,” Arora told IANS.
In the ongoing Sher-E-Punjab T20 League, Arora has been part of Ludhiana Lions’ leadership group and has led the side in the absence of captain Arshdeep Singh.
He has also made an impact with the bat, including an unbeaten 78 off 38 balls against Fazilka Falcons. Arora has batted higher in the order at No. 3 during the tournament, a move he believes has benefited both him and the team.
“I am getting a lot of confidence from these knocks. So, I will try to carry this momentum forward in the next match. We want to win the next match and play the semifinals,” he said.
Explaining the change in batting position, Arora said it was based on the team’s requirements and produced positive results.
“I felt the need to bat higher up the order, as per the requirements of the team. So as I changed the batting order, the result was also positive. So I thought I should play up,” he said.
With the SMAT campaign and another IPL season ahead, Arora will look to convert his recent form into consistent performances as he continues his pursuit of an India cap.
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