Batting, bowling & captaincy - Sandipan Das is ready for a rebirth at the first-class level | Bengal Cricket Exclusive

It's been a decade when Sandipan Das along with Ravikant Singh and current team India player Hanuma Vihrai had lifted the 2012 ICC U-19 World Cup. Since then, Sandipan has been trying to settle his feet in the Bengal team as an all-rounder. But, somehow, it has not happened till now. Why? Maybe a first-class average of 21 with the bat speaks about his inconsistency in past at the top of the level. However, after spending nearly a decade at the first-division level, leading the club to championships, a mature Sandipan Das is looking for a rebirth at the first-class level. His dream of donning the Indian jersey is still on and with Bengal looking for pace bowling all-rounders along with Sayan Sekhar Mondal, he might be the right choice to fill the gap.

With 1002 runs at an average of 58.94 this season across formats, Sandipan Das was always in the thick of thigs for his club. This goes with the vital bowling he has done in the middle overs. The right handed all-rounder along with all of these has led his team to a second consecutive league title this season and third overall for Bhawanipore club. According to coach Abdul Monayem, "He has been tremendous as a leader and player. It will be hard to keep him outside the team now."

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Sandipan feels captaincy has never been an issue for him as he has been playing cricket with his teammates like Abhisek Das, Ravikant Singh and others since the U-15 days. So, managing them on filed was not that hard for him. "No, certainly captaincy was never a burden to me. I have been playing cricket with them since my early days. I enjoyed leading the side. And, they have been exceedingly great with their response with bat and ball." Sandipan said in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point.

Das this season had one of this best seasons as a player and his double hundred against Paikpara in the quarter final of the season was one of the highlights of the season. Those who don't know, he nearly scored that double hundred with one leg. Sandipan had some cramps in left leg and scored that ton literally limping in every ball. "One of the best I have seen," Abdul Monayem had told after watching that inning from the sideline of the ground.

After another successful season, the captain of the pack feels that fitness was one of the things that turned every player into a better player this season. Moreover, the average age of the team helped them maintain the fitness level throughout the season. In addition, there was no senior-junior relation among the team which helped the team environment a lot.

"Fitness plays an important role when the season gets prolonged. Our pacers were relentless throughout the season. Beating teams like Mohun Bagan in the semis was never easy. So, all the credit goes to them."

"Me as a individual player just wanted to help the team the way I can. Even the 44 I scored in the final, was not big but I think was vital. So, the plan was always to contribute to the team," Sandipan told Sportz Point.

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Along with Sandipan and Sayan Sekhar Mondal there are few all-rounders who are also trying to get their head ahead of the competition. Young all-rounder Subham Sarkar, Sandipan's own teammate Arka Sarkar are also contenders. But, the former U-19 World Cup winner is not focusing on that. "As of now, the main thing I am focusing on is that how can I make my team win. This is as simple as that. It does not matter which team I am playing for. I am now a more matured player individually. So, I am not focusing on those things. I know if I keep working hard, I will be doing good," Das added.

"The dream of playing for India is still alive for me. The goal now is to represent Bengal in all formats of the game and then somehow knock the doors of Indian team," Sandipan said about his future goals.