Hardik Pandya is all set to play for Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024 under his the captaincy of his elder brother Krunal Pandya. The domestic T20 tournament begins from November 23 and goes on till the semi-finals and final on December 13 and 15 respectively. According to the Times of India, Hardik's inclusion is expected to strengthen Baroda's squad as they look to better last season when they finished as runners-up. Hardik was last seen in SMAT back in 2016 as national commitments have kept him away from domestic cricket since. Krunal Pandya is in a good patch this domestic season. He took Baroda to four wins in five matches in the first phase of the Ranji Trophy, including a notable victory over Mumbai. Meanwhile, Baroda tops Elite Group A with 27 points. Krunal has been pivotal with the bat, scoring 367 runs in seven innings, including a ton and three half-centuries. He also made a century in Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) tournament in the final this year by leading his team to victory and taking home the cup. Krunal-led Baroda lost to Punjab in the final of 2023 SMAT. He was the one scoring the most for the team, with 323 runs, which came with the help of three fifties, and picked up 7 wickets while bowling at an economy rate of 6.03. Baroda is placed in Group B with Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Saurashtra, Karnataka, and Sikkim. Their campaign starts against Gujarat on 23 November. Also Read | BGT 2024-25: 7 Players to Watch Out in the High-Stakes Series Group B Schedule for Baroda: Vs Gujarat: Nov 23 Vs Uttarakhand: Nov 25 Vs Tamil Nadu: Nov 27 Vs Tripura: Nov 29 Vs Saurashtra: Dec 1 Vs Karnataka: Dec 3 Vs Sikkim: Dec 5