Bengal Cricket: "This team is stronger than the 2019-20 team," says Chairman of Bengal Selection Committee, Subhomoy Das

The Cricket Association of Bengal has announced a 22-member squad for the upcoming quarter-finals of Ranji Trophy 2021-22. Bengal will face Jharkhand in the quarter-final starting on 4th June. Subhomoy Das, the Chairman of the Bengal Selection Committee shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point after the squad was announced.

Subhomoy Das started the conversation with, "we have got the best possible team for Bengal". "Even as a Bengal fan if I look at the squad, we have got one of the strongest teams with the mixture of youth and experience," he added.

Read Also: "I believe now we can bounce back from any situation:" Bengal star Sudip Chatterjee

Saha and Shami are in the squad

Wriddhiman Saha, who had opted his name out of the first phase of the Ranji Trophy is now available for the knock-outs. Saha's inclusion will be a huge booster for the team. Moreover, with his recent form in the IPL 2022, he can be a factor in Bengal's results as well.

"This is not a comeback for Saha. He was always there for the team and with the team. It will be a huge bonus for the Bengal team to have Saha and Shami's service in the knock-out venture like this," Subhomoy Das said on the comeback of Saha and Mohammad Shami in the Bengal Rani Trophy squad.

Along with Mohammed Shami, his brother Mohammed Kaif is also included in the squad. There might be a chance that the Shami brothers play for Bengal in the quarter-finals as well.

"Kaif comes in as a bowling all-rounder. He had started the season well as a bowler. Although he had lost some of his rhythms in the middle. It is good that he has got back that rhythm and has also done well in the U-25s. Hence, we have backed him as a bowling all-rounder in the team," Subhomoy Das said.

Read Also: "I believe that this Bengal team will win 3-4 trophies in coming years," says Anustup Majumdar

Koushik Ghosh makes a comeback

But the news of the town was the inclusion of Koushik Ghosh, who has been scoring runs like fun in the club cricket. Koushik Ghosh scored two 100s ( 164 vs Aryan Club & 176 vs Mohun Bagan) and one double century (218 vs Rajasthan Club) in the span of three-innings to break the doors of the Bengal team.

"It's absolutely important to back players who are in form. Players who are doing well at the club level and junior level will get their chance. We want to give them all the positive vibes that their hard work will not go in vain. Not only him, but players like Sayan Sekhar Mondal and Abishek Raman also have come back in the team after club performances."

Read Also: "I take every game as my last," Bengal all-rounder Sayan Sekhar Mondal is only focusing on the next ball

Anki Mishra included as the third left-arm spinner

Along with him, Ankit Mishra is another player who got included in the squad after some brilliant performances in age-level cricket. Subhomoy Das was very impressed with Ankit's six-for in the U-25 match against Punjab.

"We are looking for players who are doing well in the pressure situation. Yes, he is a good bowler. But the thing that impressed all of us was his ability to do well under pressure. I feel this is the right time for him to be in the squad and learn as much as possible," the Chairman of the Selection committee added.

"Doors are always open:" Subhomoy Das

However, there are some players in the squad who were excluded without getting a game. Players like Kazi Junaid Saifi and Shakir Habib Gandhi are among them. Subhomoy Das had some massage for them as well.

"They need to understand that the door is always open for them. Keep performing and the chances will come again. You perform and come back straightaway. Since the day I have been in the thick of things, I have always said the emphasis will always be on performance."

6 of the 22 players in the squad will come fresh from the IPL and Subhomoy Das feels it will give the team a huge booster along with the experience they have in the team. "They all will bring the great experience of the IPL to the team. We will need that in the knock-out stage of the tournament," he added.

"We played the final last time. But this time this team is stronger than the 2019-20 team. They all are much improved and stronger individuals. I am very much hopeful that this team has all the ingredients that are needed to win that Ranji Trophy," he added further.

Bengal Ranji Trophy Squad for the quarter-final

Abhimanyu Easwaran (c), Manoj Tiwary, Wriddhiman Saha, Mohammed Shami, Anustup Majumdar, Sudip Chatterjee, Shahbaz Ahmed, Abhishek Raman, Writtick Chatterjee, Sayan Sekhar Mondal, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Ishan Porel, Koushik Ghosh, Ritwik Roy Chowdhury, Pradipta Pramanik, Karan Lal, Nilkantha Das, Sudip Gharami, Abishek Porel, Mohammed Kaif and Ankit Mishra.