Vidarbha has just revealed their 17-member squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025, and guess who's making a comeback? Veteran India pacer Umesh Yadav is back in the mix, at 38 years old, he last played in this tournament in 2024 and is gearing up for the domestic T20 season in Lucknow, which runs from November 26 to December 8. The team will be captained by all-rounder Harsh Dubey, with Yash Thakur stepping in as his right-hand man. Umesh's last appearance in SMAT was in 2024, where he only played two matches. It's been a quiet domestic season for him, and he's eager to make a strong comeback through this tournament. The seasoned pacer has been quite vocal about his ambition to return to the Indian team, emphasizing that solid performances in domestic cricket are key to getting back in the mix. Having last represented India in the WTC Final 2023, Umesh has shared his thoughts on the challenges of waiting for opportunities and what keeps him motivated to play at the domestic level. Even though he hasn't been selected since that match and went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, he still holds onto the hope of returning. With 57 Tests and 170 wickets under his belt, this Vidarbha veteran brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the bowling lineup. Read also: Jasprit Bumrah on the money! Chips off Aiden Markram's wicket just before Tea in Guwahati While his recent form in domestic cricket has been decent, including a single-wicket performance in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, Umesh is expected to bolster Vidarbha's chances. The 2025 edition sees some significant changes for the team. Last season’s captain, Jitesh Sharma, who led the squad to the quarterfinals, has been left out as he focuses on India A duties and an upcoming T20I series against South Africa. In his absence, Dubey has taken on the captaincy role. Harsh had a standout performance at the Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha, where he notched up his first T20 fifty and took four wickets. His remarkable Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season, where he bagged a record-breaking 69 wickets, was pivotal in Vidarbha’s title win and even earned him a mid-season IPL contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad. The squad also includes wicketkeeper Shivam Deshmukh, with pacer Yash Thakur stepping in as vice-captain. Vidarbha’s group includes strong opponents such as Mumbai, Kerala, Assam, Odisha, Railways, and Andhra, with their tournament opener scheduled against Chhattisgarh on November 26. Vidarbha squad for Syed Musthtaq Ali Trophy 2025 Harsh Dubey (C), Yash Thakur (VC), Atharva Taide, Dhruv Shorey, Aman Mokhade, Yash Rathod, Shivam Deshmukh (wk), Akshay Wadkar, Nachiket Bhute, Darshan Nalkande, Yash Kadam, Varun Bisht, Parth Rekhade, Umesh Yadav, Praful Hinge, Deepesh Parwani, Adhyayan Daga