Bengal has been a centre of sporting excellence for generations, having produced countless sports legends. In cricket, the state has a rich legacy since the 1960s and 70s in the Indian national team. Ambar Roy, Subhash Gupte, Sourav Ganguly, Jhulan Goswami, Wriddhiman Saha, Mohammed Shami, Richa Ghosh, and Akash Deep are some of the renowned cricketing personalities who have represented India in the international arena.

Despite this rich legacy, the state of Bengal has struggled to produce homegrown cricketing stars in recent decades, especially in men's cricket. Though talents such as Titas Sadhu and Saika Ishaque have successfully earned the coveted India cap, native top-tier players have rarely emerged in recent years.

Below are the seven homegrown U-19 talents from Bengal we at Sportz Point believe can go the distance and make their mark in international cricket. Please note, the list is in random order.

1. Ankit Chatterjee

Ankit Chatterjee is one of the most promising U-19 talents in Bengal at the moment. The left-handed top-order batter has all the skills to be a future star for Bengal and eventually in Indian cricket. In the recently concluded Vinoo Mankad Trophy, Ankit finished as Bengal's highest scorer and fourth-highest in the tournament. Ankit finished the tournament with 376 runs in 9 games with an average of 41.78 and a strike rate of 98.42. 

Along with his dominance in white-ball cricket, Ankit has shown his skill in the red-ball format as well. Till now, he has scored 300 runs in Cooch Behar Trophy with an average of 50.00 and is Bengal's highest scorer in the tournament as well.

During his U-16s days, Ankit was also the Bengal's highest run scorer in the Vijay Merchant Trophy as well. Ankit plays for Shyambazar Club in Kolkata First-Division Cricket and has featured for Murshidabad Kings in Bengal Pro T20 League as well.

Read Also | Vinoo Mankad Trophy: Vishal Bhati's 111 and Ankit Chatterjee's 92 help Bengal qualify for final after 11 years

2. Yudhajit Guha

Medium pacer Yudhajit Guha has already featured for India U-19 in a series against Australia U-19 and also did well in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup where India lost in the final against Bangladesh U-19. 

The 18-year-old pacer has been playing for Bengal in underage cricket since the U-16s and came through the ranks after doing well in those levels. Guha has a long run-up and has an economical action which helps him bowl longer spells without wasting much energy.

Guha's 57/6 against Saurashtra followed by a 23/7 against Jharkhand in this season's Cooch Behar Trophy impressed the BCCI selectors, which helped him don the U-19 jersey. He took 8 wickets in 5 games in Vinoo Mankad Trophy where Bengal played the final. 

Yudhajit's father Koushik Guha, who himself is a coach in the Kolkata Club Cricket League, has played a major role in his career. Guha is currently also the vice-captain of the Bengal U-19 team as Bengal prepares for the knockouts of the Cooch Behar Trophy tournament.

Read Also | Exclusive | "Felt like my debut:" Bengal pacer Ishan Porel now wants to enjoy his cricket after a solid comeback to first-class cricket

3. Debjani Das

During the inaugural Bengal Women's Pro T20 League 2024 tournament, Sportz Point had already written about this exceptional talent from Bengal. 5 feet 8 inches Tall, sharp and smart U-15 left-arm leg spinner Debjani Das already had impressed none other than Jhulan Goswami in her first trials and since then already made her mark by helping Bengal win the BCCI Women's U-15 One Day Tournament. 

Read Also | Women's Cricket Exclusive: Age 14, 5 feet 8 inches tall, bowls left-arm wrist spin; Debjani Das is all set to be Bengal's next cricketing superstar

Debjani was very impressive during the Bengal Women's Pro T20 League and despite being one of the younger players in the tournament, attracted the attention of CAB coaches and selectors. The 14-year-old Kuldeep Yadav fan has a top-arm action which enables her to get that extra bounce which can trouble any batter in the world.

Besides being a smart spinner, Debjani is sharp in the field and is an all-round athlete. In the BCCI U-15 Women's One-Day Tournament, Debjani finished with 21 wickets in just 8 matches and was the second-highest wicket-taker in the whole tournament. And, as a few legends have already mentioned, "she is the one for the future".

4. Sandipta Patra

Like Debjani, here is another player from the Bengal U-15 team who I believe can play for India in the near future. Sandipta Patra, the right-handed top-order batter scored 372 runs in just 7 innings in BCCI U-15 Women's One-Day Tournament with a staggering average of 93.00. She finished the tournament as Bengal's highest run-getter and second-highest overall as Bengal clinched the trophy under her captaincy. 

Sandipta was part of Murshidabad Queens in the Bengal Women's Pro T20 League and played a vital knock of 45 in the final where they lost against Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers. She also finished as the seventh-highest run scorer of the tournament as well.

Read Also | 300 in a U-13 match: Bengal's wonder kid Ram Sen creates history in CAB Ambar Roy U-13 Tournament

5. Agniswar Das

Although only 17, the dashing right-handed batter from the district of Birbhum has been in the news of Bengal cricket since his U-13 days when he impressed one and all in the CAB Ambar Roy Sub Junior U13 tournament. Agniswar's batting has some unique style and flair which will make anyone sit and watch his game. 

He announced himself in Bengal cricket with an unbeaten 250 against Goa in the Vijay Merchant Trophy last season and since then has played for Town Club in the last two seasons. This year has signed for Kalighat Club where he will have the chance to learn from players like Anustup Majumdar and Manoj Tiwary.

In the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, he has scored 295 runs at an average of 42.14 and surely has the guts and talent to become Bengal's next big thing in Men's cricket.

6. Toriya Singha Roy

Another player from the Bengal Women's U-15 team who has immense potential to play for India. A stylish left-handed batter who bats at the top of the order and has a bat flow like Smriti Mandhana must be a special player. 

Toriya showcased her class while scoring 209 runs in the BCCI U-15 Women's One-Day tournament at an average of 34.83. But, mark my word, she is a better player than that. In just one year, she has developed herself into one of the most watchable young women batters in Bengal cricket and the is she can convert those into more big runs, she can surely go the distance.

Read Also | Women's Cricket Exclusive: Durgapur's Bidisha Dey is looking to emerge as an effective all-rounder

7. Adrija Sarkar 

The youngest in the list, but the most talented one. Adrija Sarkar was discovered during the CAB Women's T20 League where she played for Rajasthan Club at the tender age of just 8. Even at that age, Adrija's pace bowling had impressed former India cricketer Mithu Mukherjee who was astonished to see the young girl's pace at that age.

Five years later, the 13-year-old youngster played a stunning knock of 62 from 63 balls which helped her win the Player of the Match award in the BCCI Women's U-15 One-Day tournament final. Adrija finished the tournament with 209 runs at a strike rate of 112.36 and she was the only batter from Bengal to score a ton in that tournament. 

A few other players who have been impressive as well

Along with these young talents, players like Vishal Bhati, Remondina Khatun, Snigdha Bag, Bidisha Dey, Prativa Mandi, Chandrahas Dash, Debangshu Pakhira and Ashutosh Kumar have been impressive so far in their careers and have the potential to become future stars of Indian cricket. 

Vishal Bhati has been Bengal Men's U-19 team's best all-rounder and was the player of the tournament in Vinoo Mankad Trophy. Along with him, Bengal U-19 captain Chandrahas Dash, Ashutosh Kumar and pace bowling all-rounder Debangshu Pakhira have been splendid so far.

In Women's Cricket, Snigdha Bag, who took 16 wickets in 8 games and Remondina Khatun, who took 8 wickets in the U-15 tournament, have all the features to be a future star. Bengal Women's U-19 captain Bidisha Dey has been in and around the National Cricket Academy and another all-rounder Prativa Mandi, who made her senior debut recently are future prospects as well. 

The controversy over the key members of the Indian Test team not being selected for major domestic cricket tournaments continues to grow. Now The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has expressed strong displeasure over the exclusion of top international players like KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj from the South Zone team for the upcoming Duleep Trophy.

After this, the Board has officially written a letter to all the state associations asking them to give priority to the selection of centrally contracted players for this opening tournament of the domestic season.

Also Read: Ranji Trophy: Ajinkya Rahane steps down from Mumbai captaincy ahead of the new season

Many big names were not included

South Zone announced its team on July 27. Many big names like KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna and Sai Sudharsan were not included in it.

The Duleep Trophy, which begins in Bengaluru on August 28, is considered an important platform for domestic and national level talents. The board did not like the decision of the South Zone to not include these players in the team despite their availability during the off-season.

Abey Kuruvilla wrote the email

BCCI General Manager of Cricket Operations Abey Kuruvilla addressed the issue in an email sent to zonal coordinators and state units last week. According to the reports, Kuruvilla stressed the importance of ensuring the participation of all available Indian players to maintain the prestige and competitive level of the Duleep Trophy. 

Kuruvilla wrote in the email, “To uphold its prestige and ensure the highest quality of competition, it’s imperative that all currently available India players are selected for their respective zonal teams. Requesting the Zonal Convenors to ensure that all the current India players who are available to play Duleep trophy should be picked.”

“All players, contracted or otherwise, who make themselves available for selection into Team India, shall participate in domestic matches conducted by BCCI,” 

“In case any player opts not to participate in any domestic cricket tournaments in spite of availability, he/she shall not be considered for selection unless a prior recommendation is obtained to skip the match/tournament from the National coach and the chairman of the selection committee, and prior approval from the BCCI. In case any leave is granted, the same shall be considered on the basis of some valid and cogent reason.” the email said.

Instructions to give priority to domestic cricket

This directive is in line with the BCCI's policy of making participation of international players mandatory in domestic competitions. The board had previously warned players against giving priority to the IPL over first-class cricket and earlier this year reminded all contracted players to remain committed to the domestic calendar.

However, this instruction from BCCI has come after South Zone announced its team. It is still not clear whether the selectors will make any changes in their list or not. Tilak Verma was made the captain of the team.

Also Read: Duleep Trophy: Shardul Thakur to lead the West Zone; no Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara in the squad

Questions were raised on international players

Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh and Shreyas Iyer among many other players are expected to participate in the tournament representing their respective regions.

The state associations have previously expressed concern that the automatic inclusion of Indian stars in the regional teams overlooks Ranji players who have performed consistently throughout the season.

Many have argued that matches such as India A tours and Board President's XI would be a more suitable platform for international players, leaving regional tournaments as a rewarding avenue for domestic players.

The ICC Women's World Cup 2025 is to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka and a total of 8 teams are to participate in it. But even before the tournament starts, a big change has been made in its schedule.

After the stampede in Bengaluru, the ICC has now decided to shift the matches to be held at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to the ground in Navi Mumbai, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Friday.

Also Read: ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: Indian squad announced, Shefali Verma not in the team

Matches cancelled in Bengaluru due to RCB stampede case

After 17 years of long wait, RCB team finally won the IPL 2025 title. After this, RCB players gathered at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru to celebrate the victory. There was a huge crowd to see them and after this many fans lost their lives due to a stampede.

Then the Karnataka government formed a commission, which declared the Bengaluru ground unsafe for big events. Now after this, the ICC has decided not to hold matches on the Bengaluru ground.

Matches will be held at Navi Mumbai ground

The match between India and Sri Lanka was to be held on 30 September at Bengaluru ground, which will now be played at Guwahati ground. The match between England and South Africa was also scheduled to be held on 3 October, which will now be held in Guwahati. The match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on 20 October was to be played at Colombo ground, which will now be played at Navi Mumbai ground. 

On the other hand, Navi Mumbai has got two more matches to be played in Bengaluru. These include India vs New Zealand (23 October) and India vs Bangladesh (26 October). There is also a strong possibility that the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final will be held either in Navi Mumbai or Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Also Read: India Cricket team's performance in every ICC Women's World Cup

Jay Shah expressed satisfaction about the new venue

"Navi Mumbai has emerged as a genuine home for women’s cricket in recent years. The support it has received during international fixtures and the Women’s Premier League has been remarkable, creating an atmosphere that elevates the players and inspires fans. I am certain that the same energy will define the big matches of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup as it returns to India after 12 years," Jay Shah said in an ICC release.

“We stand at a pivotal moment in the journey of the women’s game. This World Cup has the potential to be remembered as one of those defining milestones that shaped the sport’s future, not only in India but across the cricketing world.

“While unforeseen circumstances required us to adjust the schedule and replace a venue, we are pleased to now have a line-up of five world-class venues that will showcase the very best of the women’s game. The stage is set, and I am confident this tournament will capture imaginations and inspire a new generation of fans.”

Veteran batsman Ajinkya Rahane, on Thursday, has resigned from the captaincy ahead of the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. In a message on social media, Rahane made it clear that this is the time when the team should get a chance to develop new leadership.

Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour.

With a new domestic season ahead, I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader, and hence I’ve decided not to continue in the captaincy role.

I remain fully committed to giving my best…

— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) August 21, 2025

Also Read: BCCI extends Ajit Agarkar's contract as Chairman of Selectors till June 2026

'I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader'

Rahane posted on his social media account that he would not continue as Mumbai captain in Ranji Trophy but would continue to represent the side as a player.

“Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour. With a new domestic season ahead, I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader, and hence I’ve decided not to continue in the captaincy role. I remain fully committed to giving my best as a player and will continue my journey with @MumbaiCricAssoc to help us win more trophies. Looking forward to the season,” Rahane wrote on his X account.

Mumbai Team under Rahane's captaincy

Under Rahane's captaincy, Mumbai achieved stability and success in domestic cricket. Under his leadership, Mumbai ended a seven-year drought by winning the Ranji Trophy in 2023–24. Apart from this, he also led the team to victory in the Irani Cup in 2024-25 and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2022-23. These victories took his captaincy to new heights.

Despite giving up captaincy, the 37-year-old, who has scored over 14,000 runs in 201 first-class matches, made it clear that he is not retiring. He will continue to represent Mumbai as a batsman in all formats.

Rahane said that he will work for the team as a batsman with full enthusiasm and commitment. His main goal is to bring success to the team and help the new captain in his development.

Also Read: Five things from Asia Cup team announcement press conference

Who will be the new captain?

India allrounder Shardul Thakur will lead the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team for forthcoming season.

Thakur leading Mumbai was always on the cards especially after he was appointed as West Zone captain for Duleep Trophy. It is understood that the Mumbai senior selection committee spoke to Rahane before the season and had taken his feedback about future captaincy candidates.

Thakur has been playing a vital role in Mumbai’s Ranji success over the past few years. In addition to wickets, he has also bailed out Mumbai with lower-order runs. He also scored 505 runs for Mumbai last season where he slammed one hundred. He also took 35 wickets in nine matches.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the Indian women's cricket team for the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup 2025. This tournament will be held in October and a list of 15 players has been released for this on Tuesday.

#TeamIndia squad for ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025⬇️

Harmanpreet Kaur (Capt), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (WK), Kranti Gaud, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani,…

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) August 19, 2025

Also Read: India Cricket team's performance in every ICC Women's World Cup

Harmanpreet to lead the team

The responsibility of team selection was of the National Selection Committee, which is headed by former Indian cricketer Ajit Agarkar. He has handed over the command of the team to experienced all-rounder Harmanpreet Kaur.

At the same time, left-handed opener Smriti Mandhana has been appointed as the vice-captain. Both the players have been the backbone of the Indian women's team for the last several years and they are expected to perform well in this tournament as well.

No Shafali Verma in the squad

Shafali Verma has been left out despite the head coach, Amol Majumdar, backing her after the England series. Shafali was part of the India A squad on the recently concluded Australia tour, but she couldn't impress much in six white-ball matches that included three One-Day games too. As for the squad, the Indian team has been picked on the expected lines with not much surprise in the offing.

Some new faces got the chance 

BCCI has selected a balanced team in which along with the experienced players, some new faces have also got a chance. In which players like Pratika Rawal, Sree Charani and Kranti Gaud will get a chance to prove themselves on a big stage like the World Cup for the first time. The selectors have made it clear that these young players have been selected on the basis of their domestic performance.

Strong bowling unit

The role of all-rounders will be important in the team. Players like Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana have the ability to contribute with both bat and ball. Renuka Singh and Arundhati Reddy will lead the fast bowling attack. Radha Yadav and Sneh Rana will strengthen the spin department.

Players to take part in a special training camp

According to the team management, the players will take part in a special training camp before the World Cup, in which special attention will be paid to fitness, strategy and match simulation. The goal is that the team should enter the field fully prepared and become a strong contender to win the title.

Also Read: ICC Women's World Cup Past Winners & Most Successful Teams

ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: India Squad

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Yastika Bhatia, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud.

The 13th edition of the ICC Women's ODI Cricket World Cup will begin on September 30 with co-hosts India and Sri Lanka facing off in the opening match of the tournament at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Defending champions Australia are the most successful team in the history of the Women’s World Cup having won it seven times. England have won it five times and New Zealand once.

In this article, we will have a look at the top 10 batters with most runs in ICC Women's World Cup.

Also Read: ICC Women's World Cup Past Winners & Most Successful Teams

Most Runs in ICC Women's World Cup

10. Claire Taylor | 856 runs

Claire Taylor played 19 World Cup matches and batted in 18 innings, scoring 856 runs at an impressive average of 61.14 and a strike rate of 77.11. She hit three centuries in World Cups, and her highest score of 137 not out came in a tough match against Australia, where she stood firm till the end.

She began her World Cup journey with quiet performances but quickly grew into a powerful presence in the team. In the 2009 ODI World Cup, she was at her very best. She scored 324 runs in the tournament, including one century and two fifties, and was named Player of the Tournament.

9. Harmanpreet Kaur | 876 runs

Harmanpreet Kaur has been one of the biggest match-winners for India in ODI World Cups. She has played 26 World cup matches and scored 876 runs in 22 innings with a strong average of 51.52 and a strike rate of 94.39. Her three centuries include one of the most iconic knocks in women’s cricket. Her top score of 171 not out against Australia in the 2017 semi-final is remembered as a turning point for Indian women’s cricket.

Harmanpreet began her World Cup journey in 2009, but it was in 2013 that she truly showed her talent with a fighting century against England. In 2017, her unbeaten 171 became a historic moment, making her a household name in India. That innings not only helped India reach the final but also brought women’s cricket into the spotlight.

8. Meg Lanning | 948 runs

Meg Lanning has been one of the most dependable players in the history of the ODI World Cup. She has played 22 matches and batted in all of them, scoring 948 runs at a solid average of 52.66 and a strike rate of 88.68. She has scored three centuries in ODI World Cups, with her highest score being 152 not out.

Lanning became the youngest Australian to score an international century at the age of 18. In the 2013 ODI World Cup, she was one of Australia’s leading run scorers and continued to lead from the front in future tournaments.

7. Karen Rolton | 974 runs

Karen Rolton, in her ODI World Cup career, played 28 matches and batted in 22 innings, scoring a total of 974 runs. Her batting average of 74.92 is among the best in the tournament’s history. With a strong strike rate of 85.58, she often dominated bowling attacks and helped Australia build or chase totals with ease.

Rolton scored three centuries in the ODI World Cups. Her highest score was an unbeaten 154. One of her most memorable performances came in the 2005 World Cup final, where she scored a brilliant hundred and was named Player of the Match, helping Australia lift the title.

6. Belinda Clark | 1151 runs

Belinda Clark was one of Australia’s finest players in ODI history. She played 29 matches in the Women’s World Cup and scored 1151 runs at a brilliant average of 60.57 and a strike rate of 76.77. Clark scored one century in the ODI World Cups, and that was a record-breaking 229 not out against Denmark in 1997. This knock remains one of the highest individual scores in women’s ODI history. 

In 1997, she led Australia to the World Cup title, and once again, in 2005, she guided her team to another championship win without losing a single game.

Also Read: Indian batters to score an international ton in all formats: Smriti Mandhana joins an elite list

5. Suzie Bates | 1179 runs

Suzie Bates made her international cricket debut in 2006. Since then, she has become one of New Zealand’s most reliable and attacking ODI batters. 

In the ODI World Cup, Bates has played 27 matches, scoring a total of 1179 runs at an impressive average of 56.14 and a strike rate of 84.82. She has registered four centuries, with her highest score being a breathtaking 168 off just 105 balls against Pakistan.

In the 2013 World Cup, Suzie Bates was named Player of the Tournament for her outstanding performance. She received the ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year award in the same year.

4. Charlotte Edwards | 1231 runs

Charlotte Edwards was one of the most successful captains in England’s ODIs. In total, Edwards played 30 ODI World Cup matches, where she scored 1231 runs at an incredible average of 53.52. She maintained a strong strike rate of 73.62 and registered four centuries, with her highest score being the unforgettable 173.

Edwards made her ODI debut at the age of 16. In 1997, she stunned the world by scoring 173* against Ireland during a World Cup match, a record-breaking innings that announced her arrival on the world stage.

As a captain, she inspired her team with confidence and focus. Her leadership helped England win the 2009 World Cup, and she remained a key figure in World Cup campaigns throughout her career.

3. Janette Brittin | 1299 runs

Janette Ann Brittin was one of the most dependable and consistent batters in the history of women’s ODI cricket. When it comes to ODI World Cups, Janette’s performance was unmatched. She played 36 World Cup matches, scoring 1299 runs at an excellent average of 43.3, with a strike rate of 60.4. She remains one of the top performers in the tournament’s history, with 4 World Cup centuries, including a best of 138*.

Overall 63 ODI matches, Brittin scored 2121 runs with a solid average of 42.42.

2. Mithali Raj | 1321 runs

Mithali Raj is one of the most iconic players in Women’s One Day Internationals. In the ODI World Cups, Mithali played in 38 matches with 1321 runs at a brilliant average of 47.17 and a strike rate of 67.67. With two centuries, including a top score of 109 and 11 match-winning fifties. 

Mithali made her ODI debut at the young age of 16. She immediately impressed everyone in her first ODI with 114*. Over the years, she became the leading run-scorer in women’s ODIs with 7805 runs. She is the first player to cross the mark of 6000 runs in ODI history. 

Notably, Mithali is the only Indian captain (male or female) to have led India into two ODI World Cup finals, in 2005 and again in 2017. During the 2017 World Cup, she scored 409 runs, finishing as India’s top scorer and the second-highest overall in the tournament.

Also Read: ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 Full Schedule announced; India to face Pakistan on October 5

1. Debbie Hockley | 1501 runs

Debbie Hockley is one of the most respected names in women’s cricket history. She participated in 45 World Cup matches, scoring 1501 runs at an impressive average of 42.88 and a strike rate of 57.16. She hit two centuries, with her highest score being an unbeaten 100.* She became the first woman to score over 1500 runs and appear in more than 40 World Cup matches, which is another record in women’s World Cup history. 

Hockley also represented New Zealand in 118 ODIs, where she scored 4064 runs and became the first woman ever to cross the 4000-run mark in this format.