Samarth Vyas is a SMAT-only batter with 4 seasons of data from the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. No IPL, no international cricket. His SMAT numbers make a strong first impression.

His batting output is strong: 512 runs off 349 balls across 22 innings at a strike rate of 147 and an average of 28. That 147 SR sits above the IPL middle-overs benchmark of 145 and just below the powerplay average of 152. In the SMAT batting cohort, only RK Bhui and a handful of others post higher SRs with comparable sample sizes.

Vyas profiles as an attacking middle-order bat. The strike rate is genuinely competitive for IPL standards, and 22 innings gives the data enough weight to take seriously. The average of 28 could be higher; it suggests he sometimes gets out trying to maintain that high tempo, which is an acceptable tradeoff if the scoring rate holds. The best IPL batters accept that bargain too.

Over 4 seasons, the trajectory reads as rising, which means his most recent SMAT campaigns have been better than his earlier ones. That is a positive developmental signal for a batter still building his T20 credentials.

The model projects 0.21 WAR/M for 2026 with medium confidence. The current WAR/M of 0.32 is notably higher than the forecast, meaning the model applies significant regression. That gap reflects the uncertainty inherent in projecting SMAT-only batters to IPL conditions, where bowling quality jumps significantly.

For IPL consideration, Vyas has the strike rate profile that matters. The next question is consistency: can he maintain 147 over longer stretches and against superior bowling? A SMAT campaign where both the SR and average hold or improve would put him squarely in auction conversation.

All numbers from SMAT and domestic T20 career data.