Bengal Cricket: Ex-KKR batter Debabrata Das, Sudip Gharami sign for Kalighat, Customs bags Sourav Paul and Shubhrajit Das on Day 1

The transfer window is one of the most exciting times in Bengal cricket where surprises become a normal thing. For the 2022-23 season, last year's finalists Kalighat bagged experienced Debabrata Das from Mohun Bagan. Along with him, they got Bengal opener Sudip Gharami from East Bengal as well. Meanwhile, Customs were one of the teams who secured a quite young side for the upcoming season.

It was clearly Kalighat's day on Day 1 of the Transfer window. Getting the former KKR star Debabrata Das was certainly a huge booster for the squad. Debabrata, who was playing for the maidan giant Mohun Bagan, has left the club after 15 years with the green and maroon. Kalighat mentor Hirak Sengupta seemed thrilled to get his friend back on the team. However, for Das, he had decided to leave Mohun Bagan very early in the last season.

"I was not happy with the Bagan team management. So, I decided to join Kalighat even in December of 2021. I am very happy to be back with the Kalighat club. They played fantastic cricket in the last season. There are some fantastic young talents in the team as well. I am excited for the season to start," Debabrata Das said Sportz Point in an exclusive interview.

Though Das is delighted to be back with maroon and yellow, he knows he will need some time to get on with the team. "Yes, I know all of these guys. But, obviously, I will need some time to get on with them on the field. I am ready to put on the efforts as well," Das added.

Just like him, Sudip Gharami, the current Bengal opener is delighted to join Kalighat Club. Sudip was very successful with the East Bengal club winning two out of the three trophies last season and now he wants to continue that journey with his new team as well.

"Leaving East Bengal was always tough. But, Tultul sir (Pranob Nandy) was leaving the club and simultaneously I got the offer from Kalighat as well. The environment here in the club is good too. So, I accepted Hirak da's (Sengupta) offer," Gharami said.

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Sudip after playing a full season of first-class cricket now feels he is a different player. After spending nearly two months at the National Cricket Academy in the emerging camp, the opener feels he is more confident about his game and sure about his planning as well. Along with his aim to win trophies for Bengal, he wants to take Kalighat to new heights.

Along with Sudip Gharami, last season's one of the leading run scorers in club cricket, Ranjot Singh Khaira also left East Bengal to join Kalighat. Club mentor, Hirak said, "all of these players have just joined the club at my request. So, we as team management are ready to give everything they need to win those three trophies we are aiming for." Along with them, Sayan Ghosh has also left Mohun Bagan to join Kalighat for the next season, which makes their bowling line-up one of the best for the next season.

Meanwhile, Calcutta Customs Club bagged some big fishes out of the big guns of maidans. Bengal U-25 wicket-keeper batter Sourav Paul left Town Club to join back his former club. Customs signed Shubhrajit Das from last season's league champion, Bhawanipore Club. Moreover, Arikta Das left Police AC to join both of his U-23 Bengal mates.

Wicket-keeper batter Sourav said, "I played for Calcutta Customs for six years earlier. I was happy at Town Club. But, I feel I am more comfortable here just because I have played for them for a long time and I am confident that I will do better here."

Meantime, Shubhrajit Das, who has been given the responsibility to lead the side, said, "After spending three-four years with Bhawanipore I was looking for a new challenge. Nilambar da came to me with the challenge to lead the side. I always loved challenges. So, I accepted that. The team is very young. Most of the players in the squad are in and around the senior Bengal squad as well. So, I guess everyone will put that extra bit to make the next season successful."

Shyambazar was one of the other teams to sign their players as well on Day 1 of the transfer window of Bengal cricket. They signed Rohit Kumar, one of the promising young pacers of Bengal. The rest of their squad with Ayan Gupta and Taufiquddin Mondal remained the same.

As per reports, Barisha Sporting is scheduled to sign their players on Day 2, tomorrow. So, there might be more surprises down the line for the fans of Bengal cricket.