The 2nd edition of the Bengal T20 challenge is set to start off the Cricket season in Kolkata. Unlike the previous edition, which featured 6 Cricket clubs registered under the Cricket Association of Bengal, this season will comprise of the same number of teams, but based on cities from 6 different districts, namely, Kanchenjunga (Darjeeling), Kharagpur (West Medinipur), Krishnanagar (Nadia), Durgapur (Bardhaman), Kolkata, and Barrackpore (North 24 Parganas). Sponsored by Byju's, the entirety of the league, like last year, will take place at the Eden Gardens and will be streamed live on FanCode.

The commencement of the tournament is set to take place tomorrow, the 7^th of September. The teams were picked with the help of a draft process at the Fairfield Marriott on Saturday, and the unveiling of the teams' kits was also done on the same day. The list of members of all 6 teams are given below:   

One major criterion of preparing the 120-player roster was that the Cricketers eligible to play for the state's domestic team were being looked at, therefore certain players from Bengal, who have had to shift allegiances to Railways for different reasons have had to miss out on this 17-day tournament. Due to the increasing problem of cricketers hailing from different states coming to West Bengal and identifying themselves as locals to get into the Bengal cricket setup, resulting in the deprivation of local cricketers from progress, CAB also ran a verification process and weeded out a list of cricketers with disputed/suspect documents, all of whom have been prevented from taking part in this competition as well.

Among the 120 players, there are several candidates who we think can make the most out of this window of opportunity. We have narrowed it down to the 20 most promising ones among them, which are as follows:

Note: This is a guest article. The authors hold the rights and control over the choice of the players.

Sudip Kumar Gharami (Kanchenjunga Warriors)

Much like the biggest Cricketing icon of Bengal and current BCCI president Sourav Ganguly, Sudip Gharami's domestic cricketing debut match was a Ranji Trophy final, after he was brought in the squad in place of an injured Koushik Ghosh for the ultimate encounter against Saurashtra at Rajkot in March 2020. One of Bengal's most promising prospects over the years, he announced himself in age-group cricket with twin hundreds against Assam and Odisha in the U16 Vijay Merchant Trophy in 2014. He amassed a total of 694 runs in the 2018/19 U23 Col. CK Nayudu trophy, studded with 6 half-centuries and a hundred. The following season, he played a major role in Bengal's U23 One Day Trophy triumph with 509 runs in 11 innings at an average of 46.27, finishing 3rd in the highest run-scorers list.

Having started his club cricket career for Salkia Friends Association at 15, Gharami gradually moved up the ranks and secured a transfer to East Bengal from Barisha Sporting this year. Gharami, who missed out on T20 Cricket action last season, is ready to make his mark in the format this year, starting tomorrow.

Role: Opener, Right-Handed Batsman

Diganta Neogi (Krishnanagar Challengers)

A young prodigy who had emerged as a prominent six-hitter from the age-group ranks, Diganta Neogi's cricketing career took a hit after a shoulder injury sidelined him from the sport for a long, long time. Neogi, who aggregated 416 runs in the 2018/19 Cooch Behar Trophy, returned to the playing field 11 months after a shoulder surgery. Donning the colours of George Telegraph, Neogi hit 203 runs over 4 innings in the First Division One Day Trophy last season, averaging 67.67 and striking at 84.58. Although he could not replicate the same form in the JC Mukherjee Trophy, Neogi now has a great opportunity to redeem himself, having been picked up by Krishnanagar Challengers.

Role: Opener, Right-Handed Batsman

Arnab Sikder (Kolkata Heroes)

The only second division player in the entire roster of 120 players, it can be safely said that Arnab Sikder has well and truly earned his place in the Bengal T20 Challenge roster, having performed brilliantly with both bat and ball in the second division over the last 3-4 years. Much like Sandipan Das Sr, he can be described as a utility player.

Although he had an underwhelming Inter-District Tournament last season, Sikder, who played for Taltala Institute in the 2^nd Division, was the leading run-scorer in the NC Chatterjee T20 Trophy with 420 in 7 innings, averaging 70 and striking at 168.67. To go along with that, he took 6 wickets in the 6 games that he bowled in. The fact that Sikder will get an opportunity to showcase his talent at this level, without having to go through a season of first division cricket is a majorly encouraging sign for every rookie club cricketer across divisions.

Role: Opener, Right-Handed Batsman

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Kazi Junaid Saifi (Captain, Kharagpur Blasters)

There was this incident that took place about 5 years ago that can best describe the talent in possession of the above-mentioned southpaw. A second division Cricket team attended a practice session at the Customs Cricket Ground, which also happened to host a first division (3-day) cricket match on the same day. Upon entering the ground, the cricketers of the second division team came across the sight of Kazi commencing his innings for his then club, Shyambazar. The group of cricketers, having completed their warm-up, gazed their eyes back on the ground and saw Kazi still in the middle. They completed their first session of practice and went for some refreshments. Upon return, they saw that Kazi was still there. As the 2^nd session of play went by, the second division cricketers, having completed their practice session by then, gazed their attention back in the middle of the field and saw Kazi complete his hundred. The umpires called tea, the group of boys, now completely switched to viewers, eventually witnessed the then 18-year-old Kazi bat and bat and complete a double hundred by the end of the day.

A batsman possessing great flair and charismatic strokeplay, Kazi's first cricketing experience in a Bengal shirt was when he was only 14, on an age-group tour to Bangladesh. Since then, he has been representing the state in various age-group tournaments, playing a pivotal part in both the trophies Bengal have achieved at age-group level in the last 5 years; 542 runs at an average of 41.69 in the 2016/17 Cooch Behar Trophy, and 499 runs at an average of 62.38 in the 2019/20 U23 One Day Trophy, alongside the additional responsibility of leading the team. He finished as the highest run-scorer for Town Club in the previous edition of the Bengal T20 Challenge with a total of 246 in 8 innings.

Role: Opener/middle-order bat, Left-Handed Batsman

Ranjot Singh Khaira (Kolkata Heroes)

Ever since a disappointing 2020 Bengal T20 Challenge campaign, Ranjot Singh Khaira, a middle-order batsman of accumulative nature, turned things around for better in the remainder of the club cricket season. Having secured a move to East Bengal after a prolific 2019/20 season for Paikpara Sporting Club, Khaira was vehemently backed by his new club, which eventually paid off handsomely. Khaira, batting at 3 in the entire JC Mukherjee 2020/21 campaign, helped his side earn a spot in the final with 373 runs in 8 innings, averaging 74.6 at a strike rate of 165.04, which included an unbeaten hundred against Monohar Pukur Milan Samity.

Role: Middle-order bat, Right-Handed Batsman

Ayan Gupta (Krishnanagar Challengers)

One very encouraging matter that has emerged from the draft process for the league is that it has been made evident that the Cricket Association of Bengal has not only focused on performances in age-group or club Cricket for the selection process, but has also factored in the feats performed by the local cricketers in the Inter T20 District Competition. The selection of Ayan Gupta and a few more members is a testament to that. Gupta, featuring for a title-winning Nadia Super Dazzlers side, finished as the third-highest run-scorer of the Inter-District competition. Not only did he finish with 201 runs in the 5 innings that he batted in out of the 6 matches, he remained not out in 4 out of them, which meant that his average of 201 stood out monumentally from the rest. To think that he did all of that with a strike rate of 143.57 makes it more remarkable and his selection more justifiable.

About Gupta, he has mostly batted at number 3, playing the role of an accumulator. He expertises batting against spin, often targeting the square areas of the wicket. Like most players of his kind, he is extremely swift between the wickets, which also makes him a better batsman on a cricket field with bigger boundaries.

Role: Middle-order bat, Right-Handed Batsman

Agniv Pan (Krishnanagar Challengers)

Coming from a family of athletes, Agniv Pan's sporting career began as both a cricketer and a hurdler. A silver medallist in the 110-meter hurdle race at the National Youth Athletics, Pan was voted as Bengal's best U16 Cricketer back in 2013. Despite his prowess in athletics, Pan has had prioritized the game of cricket all along. On his domestic Cricket debut for Bengal against Maharashtra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Quarter-Final in 2017, Pan walked out to bat at 3 with his side chasing a steep target of 319 and hit a brisk 47 off 37, which contributed to a record run-chase for Bengal and helped them seal a semi-finals' spot.

Pan, who also doubles up as a wicket-keeper when required, had accumulated a total of 173 runs in 4 innings, averaging 86.5 at a strike rate of 190.11 for Bhawanipore Cricket Club in the JC Mukherjee Trophy held earlier this year. His highest score in the tournament, an unbeaten 58 off 31 deliveries in the final against East Bengal, propelled his team's total to 188 and help them earn victory eventually.    

Role: Middle-order bat, wicket-keeper, Left-Handed Batsman

Suprodip Debnath (Kanchenjunga Warriors)

Much like his Nadia teammate Ayan Gupta, Suprodip Debnath has benefitted from CAB's attention to the Inter-District T20 performances. Debnath, who also kept wicket for his district side, did not have the most unforgettable tournament, but he certainly had the most phenomenal end to the campaign, having smashed an unbeaten knock of 99 off 56, laced with 4 fours and 8 sixes in the final against North 24 Parganas at the Eden Gardens.

Debnath, who also plays club Cricket for Ballygunge United in Kolkata, was adjudged player of the match in the final. If anything, the quality of that one knock was good enough to warrant him a spot in the 120-player roster for the T20 league. Debnath is set to play for Kanchenjunga Warriors and would be eager to replicate his effort from 4 months back, this time at a bigger stage.

Role: Wicket-keeper, Right-Handed Batsman

Abishek Porel (Durgapur Dazzlers)

Possibly the best wicket-keeper among the players in this list, Abishek Porel is also a beneficiary of CAB's focus towards district cricket. The southpaw, featuring for his hometown Chandannagore, finished as the 6^th highest run-getter in the Inter-District competition last season with 191 runs in 6 matches to go along with a total of 10 dismissals from behind the stumps. Although not related to Bengal pacer Ishan, the duo, virtually next-door neighbours, have been very good friends since childhood, having grown into their cricketing career during the same time-span and been mentored by the same person, Bibhas Das.

Porel, who will possibly feature in the Cooch Behar Trophy for one last time this season, scored a total of 515 runs in the 2019/20 season at an average of 42.92, all alongside doing a bulk of the glovework duty. As for his glovework, he appears to be a nimble-footed, athletic wicket-keeper who has a good reach on either side of the wicket, which can provide a sense of assurance to his team's quick bowlers.

Role: Wicket-keeper, Left-Handed Batsman

Dipanjan Mukherjee (Kanchenjunga Warriors)

Possibly the hardest hitter of the cricket ball in the Bengal cricket circuit, Dipanjan's defining moment in his cricketing career so far was when he achieved the feat of clearing the boundary six times in an over off Mohammed Nasim in a first division cricket match between Netaji Subhash Institute and Mohammedan Sporting Club at the High Court Cricket Ground. Mukherjee, representing Netaji Subhash Institute, smashed the Mohammedan Sporting medium-pacer first over deep mid-wicket, and then over cow corner, long-on, long-off, deep backward square leg, and then cow corner again. His innings ended two short of a memorable double hundred as he looked to clear the ropes and was caught at long-on.

Mukherjee, who had to leave Bengal for the Railways domestic cricket team owing to his job commitments, has been unable to attract the attention of the bigger clubs of Kolkata. However, a return to the city might have turned things around for him for better, for starters, he has achieved a place in the Kanchenjunga Warriors outfit. A very tidy-allrounder who can also bowl medium pace, Mukherjee hasn't had as decorated a cricket season as his peers, but boasts of a strike rate of 178 in the two innings that he batted in the CAB Inter District T20 Competition earlier this year. Adding to that, he also picked up 4 wickets in the three matches he featured in for North 24 Parganas.

Role: Batting All-rounder, Right-Handed Batsman, Right Arm Medium Bowler

Sandipan Das (Sr.) (Durgapur Dazzlers)

The ICC U19 World Cup-winning Indian squad has had one of the most underachieving batches of cricketers. While more prominent figures such as Unmukt Chand and Smit Patel have had to migrate to the other side of the globe to revive their cricketing careers, there were two representatives from Bengal in that squad that have not even been able to break into the Indian domestic circuit for good, one of them being right-arm quick Ravikant Singh, the other being Sandipan Das. Despite having performed with both bat and ball for years, the current skipper of the Bhawanipore Cricket Club hasn't been able to earn a call-up for a first-class game.

The best feature that can be attributed to Das Sr. is that if he fails to make an impact in one department, be it with the bat or ball, somehow, he would find a way to contribute in the other. Besides being a reliable middle-order batsman, Das is an expert in taking the pace off the ball, possessing a plethora of slower ball variations in his arsenal.

Role: All-rounder, Right-Handed Batsman, Right Arm Medium Bowler

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Arka Sarkar (Durgapur Dazzlers)

Arka Sarkar's club cricketing journey took off at Dakshin Kolkata Sansad in 2017/18, as he scored 321 runs and took 7 wickets in one season of division cricket, which eventually helped him earn an U19 cap for Bengal in the following domestic season. Following that, he signed for East Bengal, and has been playing for them ever since.

Arka Sarkar, fondly nicknamed 'Rabada' in the club Cricket circuit due to his resemblance with the South African pacer's body structure and bowling action, hasn't been able to operate at the same level as he did for his first 1st division club, but given the fact that faith has been put on him time and time again, he is bound to deliver at some point, the best time being in the next few days.  

Role: All-rounder, Right-Handed Batsman, Right Arm Medium Fast Bowler

Subham Sarkar (Kanchenjunga Warriors)

Mentored by former Bengal fast bowler and fellow Tufanganj resident Shib Shankar Paul, Subham started out as a pacer before his batting prowess encouraged him to focus on a second skill. His breakthrough season was with the ABP Sports Club in 2017/18, in which he scored 446 runs in ten innings with a couple of hundreds and fifties each batting lower down the order in Division Cricket to go along with 20 wickets, which eventually helped him earn a call-up to the Bengal U23 squad. The following year, he virtually carried his team to the final of the JC Mukherjee Trophy, finishing the competition with 119 runs and 7 wickets in 5 matches. Walking in at 77/5 in the 14th over, Subham smashed a 22-ball 45, which took his side to a total of 142. Mohun Bagan chased the total down in 18.4 overs with 6 wickets to spare.

Of course, having been mentored by a renowned former fast bowler, Subham has honed his skills with the ball quite a lot. Primarily a bowler who moves it off the air, Subham can bring the ball back a long way into right-handers due to the fact that his release is quite close to his body. In the 4 matches that he featured for the Maharaja of Cooch Behar Cricket team in the Inter-District T20 last season, he scored 164 runs at an average of 82, his strike rate being 131.2. With Bengal on the hunt for a long-term limited-overs fast-bowling all-rounder since Laxmi Ratan Shukla's retirement, Subham Sarkar, who presently plays club cricket for Kalighat, is a good contender to end the search.

Role: All-rounder, Left-Handed Batsman, Right Arm Medium Fast Bowler

Pradipta Pramanik (Kharagpur Blasters)

Only 16 when he first broke into the senior Bengal domestic team, Pradipta Pramanik can be touted as the most experienced cricketer among his age-group teammates. A tall and lanky left-arm orthodox spinner, Pramanik often focuses on bowling stump-to-stump, varying his deliveries frequently.

In 7 first-class matches, he has picked up 25 wickets at an average of 24.65. Pramanik has also made a total of 12 appearances in domestic white-ball cricket, picking up a total of 17 wickets across both formats.

He packs a punch with the bat as well, as suggested from the few whirlwind knocks that he has played down the order. A notable example would be the unbeaten 37 off 38 that he hit against Delhi in the 2018/19 Ranji Trophy, trying to help Bengal eke out a first-innings lead. Had it not been for the emergence of Shahbaz Ahmed, Pramanik might have been a regular in the senior Bengal men's team by now.  

Pramanik was also part of the winning U19 Cooch Behar squad, picking up 15 wickets in the 3 matches that he played, and the U23 One Day winning squad, in which he was the third-highest wicket-taker with 24 wickets in 11 matches, his overall economy rate being a meagre 4.

Role: Bowling All-rounder, Right-Handed Batsman, Slow Left-Arm Orthodox

Kanishk Seth (Krishnanagar Challengers)

The only cricketer in this list to possess an Indian Premier League winners' medal, Kanishk Seth was picked up by the Chennai Super Kings at a base price of 20 Lakh in the 2018 IPL auction. Although he went through the tournament without a single game, Seth proved to be a pivotal member of the squad due to the fact that he was the only left-arm quick in their roster, and he helped out the CSK batsman accordingly in the nets.

Seth, who was trained by former Indian left-arm seamer Kharsan Ghavri during his U16 days, caught everyone's eye by bowling at a speed of 132 clicks and picking up 4 wickets against Himachal Pradesh in the 2014 KSCA tournament. He had picked up 34 wickets in the Vijay Merchant Trophy earlier that year and was awarded the U16 player of the year. He was selected to attend a camp at the MRF pace foundation, but was unable to go due to restrictions from the CAB. Kanishk then left Bengal for a spell with the Railways, but now has made a return and looks set to re-join the Bengal squad. A very handy lower-order batsman as well, Seth smashed a 16-ball half-century for East Bengal in the last year's edition of the Bengal T20 Challenge against Kalighat.  

Role: Bowling all-rounder, Right-Handed Batsman, Left-Arm Fast

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Golam Mustafa (Krishnanagar Challengers)

There is no doubt about the fact that India has talented cricketers in abundance. Unfortunately, due to several factors, most people fail to make any progress. That has certainly not been the case for Birbhum's Golam Mustafa, whose career graph has taken a massive hike in the last three years.

Mustafa started out as a second-division cricketer at Baranagore Sporting. A tremendous 2019/20 Cooch Behar Trophy campaign, in which he picked up 43 wickets at an average of 16.62 in 8 matches, ensured that Arun Lal and the rest of the Bengal team management called him up to the Bengal squad mid-way through the Ranji Trophy that season.

An out-and-out seam bowler, Mustafa can generate a lot of movement off even a non-assistive deck. Adding to that, he has tremendous control over line and length, which makes him virtually unplayable on a green top. Mustafa, who currently plays for Barisha Sporting Cricket Club, picked up 6 wickets in 3 JC Mukherjee Trophy matches and 8 wickets in 5 Inter-District T20 matches for Birbhum.

Role: Bowler, Right-Arm Medium Fast

Debopratim Halder (Kolkata Heroes)

Mustafa's new ball bowling partner in the 2019/20 Cooch Behar Trophy and presently at Barisha Sporting, Halder has been revered by a few pundits as the next best upcoming Bengal pacer after Ishan Porel. Halder, a member of last year's Bengal T20 Challenge winners Tapan Memorial Club, is reputed as a bowler who has raw, sheer pace.

Halder, featuring for Biplabi Chandannagore in the Inter-District T20 last season, picked up 7 wickets in 6 matches, at an economy rate of 6.67. With Akash Deep currently being the fastest bowler in the Bengal Cricket circuit, it would be a good sight for fans of Bengal to see some competition on that front, and Halder, who will be donning the mauve colours of Kolkata Heroes in the upcoming competition, would be the ideal candidate for that.

Role: Bowler, Right-Arm Fast

Sandipan Das (Jr) (Kharagpur Blasters)

The 6th highest wicket-taker in the 2016/17 Cooch Behar Trophy, Sandipan Das Jr. played a pivotal role in Bengal's triumph in the tournament with 36 wickets across 12 innings at an average of 19.63. Sandipan also had a major role to play with the ball for the U23 One Day title-winning Bengal team, picking up 21 wickets in 11 matches.

Das Jr., who used to emulate celebrations of famous footballers after taking wickets, has not been able to make it to the senior Bengal side due to stiff competition. Unlike his namesake, Das Jr. has only one major, potent skill; bowling fast. Although he has picked up a total of 19 wickets across both the club and district T20 competitions, his economy rate is a matter of concern, 8.69 in the JC Mukherjee Trophy and 9.56 in the Inter-District T20 competition. Once he figures out the way to be miserly and maintain his wicket-taking streak, he is bound to have a lot more opportunities to play at a higher level.

Role: Bowler, Right-Arm Fast

Ankit Mishra (Barrackpore Bashers)

The highest wicket-taker in the First Division One Day tournament last season, Ankit Mishra, also a member of the U23 One Day Trophy-winning Bengal side, was picked by Barrackpore Bashers for this year's edition of the Bengal T20 Challenge. A left-arm spinner who loves to give the ball a bit of air and beat batsmen with sharp turn, Mishra took 6 wickets in the 3 JC Mukherjee T20 Trophy matches he played in last season. A massive contingent of left-arm spinners in the Bengal cricketing circuit, some of whom can also bat, does not really help Mishra's case, but he has provided us with evidence to prove that he certainly does have the ability to make an impact.

Role: Bowler, Slow Left-Arm Orthodox

Rajarshi Mitra (Barrackpore Bashers)

Yet another member of the U19 Cooch Behar title-winning Bengal squad in 2016/17, Rajarshi Mitra played a major role for his state side in the final against Delhi, taking 3 wickets for 65 runs. Primarily an off-break bowler, Mitra, who was picked by the Calcutta Customs Club in last year's T20 Challenge, currently plights his trade for Aryan Cricket Club in Kolkata.

Although he has performed considerably well in the club cricket circuit since then, taking 32 wickets in 10 first division league matches and 8 wickets in 4 JC Mukherjee T20 trophy matches in the 2018/19 club cricket season, Mitra hasn't had much success in the T20 format last season, and neither has had as much playing time as desired. Therefore, Mitra can be adjudged as one more cricketer for whom this league is of utmost importance.   

Role: Bowler, Right-Arm Off-Break

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) is all set to celebrate the remarkable achievements of its cricketers as it announced the awardees for the 2024-25 season. The awards ceremony will recognise exceptional talent across various categories, spanning senior men’s, senior women’s, and junior levels, including under-23, under-19, under-16, under-15, and club league categories. 

When is the C.A.B. Award Ceremony?

As per multiple reports, the C.A.B. Award Ceremony for the 2024-25 season will take place on 30 August 2025 at the Dhana Dhanya Auditorium in Kolkata.

Who are the winners?

In the senior men’s category, Sudip Gharami was named Cricketer of the Year, while Shahbaz Ahmed and Sayan Ghosh shared the Gentleman Cricketer and Best Fast Bowler awards, respectively. This is the second time Gharami will recieve the Cricketer of the Year Award.

Read Also: Bengal Players in IPL 2025 – Full List & Performance

Sudip Chatterjee earned the Highest Run Getter for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, and Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal will be honoured as the Highest Wicket Taker in the same tournament.

Read Also: Exclusive: 'Honoured' Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal can't wait to bowl alongside Indian pacers in Duleep Trophy 2025

The senior women’s category saw Tanusree Sarkar and Dhara Gujjar clinching the Highest Run Getter awards in the T-20 and One Day Tournaments, respectively, with Saika Ishaque recognised as the Highest Wicket Taker in the T-20 Tournament. Tanusree also won the Best Senior Women's Cricketer of the Year Award.

Both Tanusree and Dhara are with the India-A team in Australia at the moment.

Read Also: Bengal Women's Cricket Exclusive: Two out of two finals, record chase against Haryana, Jhulan Goswami, WPL and more

Among the junior categories, Rahul Prasad dominated the under-23 men’s section, securing multiple awards, including Best Cricketer and Highest Wicket Taker.

Read Also: From delivering online food to getting selected for India U-19 camp, Rahul Prasad's journey is an inspiring one

Dyuti Paul and Sushmita Ganguly shone in the under-23 women’s category, with Paul named Best Women's U-23 Cricketer and Ganguly as the Highest Wicket-taker for Bengal in Women's Under-23 One Day Tournament.

Read Also: Bengal Cricket: 7 U-19 cricketers from Bengal who can play for India in future

In the under-19 category, Vishal Bhati emerged as a key figure, winning Best Cricketer and Highest Wicket Taker, while Ipshita Mondal led the under-19 women’s section with the Highest Run Getter awards.

Sachin Yadav and Sandipta Patra were standout performers in the under-16 and under-15 categories, respectively, with Yadav named Best Bowler and Patra the Highest Run Getter.

The club league category will see Sayan Paul being honoured as the Best Under-19 Cricketer, rounding off a comprehensive recognition of talent across all levels. 

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Cricket Association of Bengal Award Winners 2024-2025

Senior Men's

Senior Women's

Men's Under-23

Women's Under-23

Men's Under-19

Women's Under-19

Men's Under-16

Women's Under-15

Men's Under-19 Club League

East Zone announced their squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025 on Friday, featuring a bowling lineup reminiscent of an Indian team, including Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, and Akash Deep. However, there is one Bengal pacer who made an entry into the squad after performing well in Ranji Trophy in last two seasons.

Bengal's medium pacer all-rounder Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal has been named in the West Zone squad. Ishan Kishan will lead the side, whereas Abhimanyu Easwaran will be the vice-captain of the team. Right after his selection, Suraj shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point.

Suraj nearly left cricket in 2023

There was one time when Suraj wanted to leave cricket and went into depression. Suraj had already lost his father, but his mother, brother and coach supported him immensely, and their belief turned into a result when he got selected for the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season after a great season with Calcutta Customs Club.

Since then, Suraj has been Bengal's highest wicket-taker in consecutive seasons and has taken 60 wickets in just 12 first-class matches at an outstanding average of 15.43. Suraj feels it is his consistency and process that have given him the results so far.

"Feeling very happy after the selection. These selections give you more confidence that I have been doing well. But, I will have to justify this with better performances," Suraj told Sportz Point.

Reflecting back on his journey, Suraj feels he is on the right track but needs to focus on the present without looking too far.

"You know that I was about to leave cricket. But, I have been able to go through that period and representing Bengal in Ranji Trophy was a dream. Now, when I am going into the next stages of Indian cricket, I need to focus on the things at hand and do what has worked well for me."

Read Also: Exclusive Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal: "Jumping out" from tough times to become Bengal's star of the season

"I am honoured"

It will not be new for Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal to bowl alongside Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar or Akash Deep. In the 2024-25 season, Suraj bowled in tandem with India's one of best, Mohammed Shami. But getting selected for the East Zone team when all of these three bowlers are available makes it more special for him. 

"To be honest, I am honoured. Getting into a squad where all of them (Shami, Mukesh and Akash Deep) are there feels special. All of them have played for India, and I am just willing to learn as much as possible from them."

However, it is quite clear as well that with Shami, Mukesh and Akash Deep being there, it would be hard for Suraj to get a game. But for Suraj, he never thinks about selection before the match. For him, selection is never in his hands, and that's why he does not want to think about something which is not under his control.

"Even in Ranji Trophy, I do not think about selection. I try to focus on the preparation and getting ready for them. That has been my habit. So, in Duleep Trophy, I will just focus on my preparation," Suraj expressed.

Read Also: Exclusive Akash Pandey: Former Bengal U19 star is inspired by Sarfraz Khan's journey, takes 9/71 against Goa in Ranji Trophy

"Don't want to think too far"

It was in tournaments like the Duleep Trophy where Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep made their names before getting that India cap. Is Suraj thinking about that too?

"No. I just want to keep doing what I have done well to get here," he answered.

"Yes, the dream is to get there (the Indian team). But I do not want to think too far and lose my focus. I trust in God and whatever he chooses for him. I just want to keep improving myself."

Apart from his bowling, Suraj last season proved himself with the bat as well. With his maiden first-class ton against Punjab in the last of the season, Suraj showed he is ready to be an all-rounder as well. By the way, he also took 8 wickets in that match.

"It is about contributing to the team, with bat, ball or fielding. Helping the team is the main goal. Yes, I have been working on my batting as well. So, feels good to have a first-class ton beside my name, but I need to keep improving.

Read Also: Fast, accurate and fearless: Nuruddin Mondal bowling bouncer to life every day | Bengal Cricket Exclusive

East Zone squad for Duleep Trophy 2025

Ishan Kishan (C), Abhimanyu Easwaran (VC), Sandeep Pattnaik, Virat Singh, Denish Das, Sridam Paul, Sharandeep Singh, Kumar Kushagra, Riyan Parag, Utkarsh Singh, Manishi, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Mohammed Shami.

Stand bys: Mukhtar Hussain, Aasirwad Swain, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Swastik Samal, Sudip Kr Gharami, Rahul Singh.

Duleep Trophy 2025 Schedule

Since the beginning, India has been known for producing great batsmen. From great Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rahul Dravid to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, they have all been among the best batsmen of their respective eras. Though all of these batters have set multiple records, only a few could score over 600 test runs in a series.

In this article, we present you with the list of players with the most runs for India in a test series.

Most Runs for India in a Test Series

#1. Suni Gavaskar | 774 in 1970-71 vs West Indies

In India's tour of the West Indies in 1970-71, Sunil Gavaskar made his debut and became the first Indian batter to score 700 or more runs in a test series. In the five-match test series against West Indies, Gavaskar scored 774 runs with an average of 154.80.

The highlight of the series was his 124 and a brilliant 220 in the final test. During that historic series, Gavaskar also struck four centuries and three half-centuries in eight innings, which helped India win the five-match test series by 1-0.

Read Also | Youngest Cricketers to lead India in Tests

#2. Sunil Gavaskar | 732 in 1978-79 vs West Indies

Sunil Gavaskar is the only Indian batter to have scored over 700 runs in a test series, that too for two times in his career. During the six-match test series against West Indies at home in 1978-79, Gavaskar slammed a total of 732 runs in nine innings with an unbelievable average of 91.50. This is also a record for an Indian captain in a test series.

The little master slammed four centuries and one half-century with a best of 205 and helped India win that six-match series by 1-0.

Read Also | Indian Captains to record two hundreds in a Test match

#3 Shubman Gill | 722* in 2025 vs England

In the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar series 2025, the current Indian test captain has scored 722 runs in 4 test matches so far. In his first test series as a captain, Shubman Gill first broke the record for the highest test score by an Indian captain and then went on to equal the record for most test centuries in a series (4). 

Gill is currently the third batter in test history to score 4 test centuries as a captain in a single series, alongside Don Bradman and Sunil Gavaskar. Till now, Gill has scored 722 runs at an average of 90.25 and has converted every fifty into a ton. He will get two more innings to break Sunil Gavaskar's record.

He is now the third on the list of players with the most runs for India in a test series.

Read Also | Every record Shubman Gill broke during the ENG vs IND, 2nd test at Edgbaston

#4 Yashasvi Jaiswal | 712 in 2024 vs England

Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal ended up as the leading run-scorer of the recently concluded IND vs ENG 2024 test series with 712 runs in five matches. He struck two double hundreds and three fifties in the test series.

The 22-year-old became the second batter after legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar to score 700 or more runs in a test series.

Read Also | Indian Captains to Score Double Tons in Test Cricket: Shubman Gill joins an elite list

#5 Virat Kohli | 692 in 2014-15 vs Australia

King Kohli has smashed more than 1500 test runs against the mighty Aussies. However, his career-best performance against the Australian side came in the four-match test series in 2014-15 on Australian soil. The right-handed batter fought alone and ended the series with 692 runs in four matches at an average of 86.50, including four centuries and one half-century.

His best score was 169 in that series. Despite his brilliant performance, India lost the series 2-0.

Read Also | Most successful Test captains from India

#6 Virat Kohli | 655 in 2016 vs England

During the England vs India 2016/17 test series, Virat Kohli brought out his best against the English side. During the five-match series, the former Indian skipper hammered 655 runs, including two centuries and two half-centuries, with the highest score of 235 with a huge average of 109.16 in eight innings.

Kohli's outstanding performance helped India win the five-match series 4-0.

Note: The article was first written by Abishek Goswami and then was updated by Koushik Biswas.

The entire cricketing world now recognizes the name Akash Deep, who dismantled the English batting lineup at Edgbaston, helping India achieve a historic victory in Birmingham.

His first-ever 10-wicket haul in a match places him alongside the greats of Indian cricket, such as Chetan Sharma, Kapil Dev, and Ishant Sharma. 

Not only that, he has now listed himself beside legend Michael Holding for dismissing four of England’s top five batsmen in a single Test innings (Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Ollie Pope), all without catches, relying on bowled or LBW dismissals. 

"Keep an eye on this guy," Goswami tweeted in 2020

Shreevats Goswami, a former Bengal and IPL cricketer, recognised early on that Akash Deep was destined for the international stage. In fact, he was the first to alert the world about Akash Deep back in 2020.

Right after Akash Deep's only second Ranji Trophy game, where Akash Deep picked up a five-wicket haul, Shreevats tweeted out, "Keep an eye on this guy, Akash Deep is a rare 'fast 'bowler in domestic cricket. Surely to watch out for in future. And he can tonk a few too."

Keep an eye on this guy , Akash deep is a rare “fast “ bowler in domestic cricket . Surely to watch out for in future. And he can tonk a few too . https://t.co/2wXw3MUHsg

— Shreevats goswami (@shreevats1) January 7, 2020

"Yes, I knew from the beginning that he was built for greatness," Shreevats told Sportz Point after Akash Deep's historic spell at Edgbaston. 

Reflecting on Akash's maiden five-wicket haul in an innings, Shreevats remarked, "It was just a matter of time. After the first inning, I called him and said that he would get it in the second inning."

Read Also | Fast, accurate and fearless: Nuruddin Mondal bowling bouncer to life every day | Bengal Cricket Exclusive

"He hits the gloves hard"

What led him to believe Akash Deep could become a future international star? "It was his pace and strength," Shreevats replied.

"He was raw. Some bowlers hit the gloves very hard, and Akash Deep was one of them," he recalled, emphasising the potential he saw in him during the Ranji Trophy and other domestic tournaments.

"He was very young back then, and I knew with time, he would get faster and stronger. This is exactly what happened in the next two to three years."

In the next three years, Akash Deep played in the Indian Premier League alongside his favourite Virat Kohli and also helped Bengal reach the final of the Ranji Trophy, and then in 2024 went on to earn the Test cap as well. 

"You see him, you will notice how strong he is - physically and mentally. He has gone through so many tough times, but nothing could distract him from his goal.

Great singing for @RCBTweets . Akash deep is a gun bowler who can clock 140+ consistently. He’s fit and strong . Have been amazing for Bengal recently . So happy for him ! Amazing guy too . Hope he gets a few game to show his class . pic.twitter.com/cyWe47djWJ

— Shreevats goswami (@shreevats1) August 30, 2021

Read Also | "Nothing to celebrate yet, the goal is to win the Ranji Trophy:" Bengal's Akash Deep after match-winning 10 wicket-haul

Akash Deep's journey - a testament to mental strength

Since his early days, Akash Deep has faced many challenges in his career and personal life.

Born in Bihar, he initially encountered rejection from his father regarding his pursuit of cricket. In 2010, he moved to Durgapur, West Bengal, in search of a job and later relocated to Kolkata.

With the assistance of a few local club officials, he signed with the United Club and began his journey in Bengal cricket. He excelled in local club cricket and was soon fast-tracked to the Bengal U-23 team, where he played a pivotal role in helping Bengal reach the final of the C.K. Nayudu tournament and win the U-23 One-Day tournament.

He quickly progressed to the Bengal senior team, and as they say, the rest is history. Even a career-threatening back injury and the loss of his brother and father within six months in 2015 could not break his mental resolve.

Following the Edgbaston Test, he revealed that his sister is battling cancer and dedicated his performance to her. These experiences illustrate his remarkable mental toughness.

Read Also | Akash Deep from Ranji Trophy to test cricket 

"He always had the hunger:" Shreevats

Along with his resilience, another quality that sets Akash apart is his hunger for improvement and greatness.

"He used to live in the C.A.B. dormitory. Many cricketers were around, but whenever I visited the indoor facilities or gym, I would always see Akash Deep putting in the effort. He always had the hunger to reach the international level," Shreevats shared.

Read Also | Bengal Players in IPL 2025 – Full List & Performance

"Duckett will be Akash Deep's bunny"

Shreevats feels Akash Deep's ability to hit the wicket hard and extract something from the pitch will help him even on flatter pitches. Moreover, he can beat the batter's outside edge and inside edge, which makes him more threatening. 

"He will beat your outside edge and inside edge. This is something which sets him apart from the other domestic bowlers."

"Look at the wicket of Joe Root - how he went wide of the crease, angled the ball and then straightened it to get Root out was just incredible."

Along with Joe Root's wicket, Shreevats was impressed to see how Akash Deep got Ben Duckett out. He feels that if Akash Deep and Ben Duckett face each other more in test cricket, he will make Ben his bunny. 

"Just like Stuart Broad made David Warner his bunny in test cricket, I have the feeling that Akash Deep can also make Ben Duckett his bunny. Around the wicket, with the new ball - he will be deadly," Shreevats expressed. 

Ben Duckett vs Akash Deep in Tests. 🤯

3 - Innings.
3 - Wickets.
3 - Batting Average. pic.twitter.com/6dQHTeiOYA

— All Cricket Records (@Cric_records45) July 6, 2025

Who should share the new ball at Lord's?

 Shreevats feels that in the next test at Lord's, Akash Deep should share the new ball alongside Jasprit Bumrah. Throughout the entire second test, Akash Deep showed how lethal he is with the new ball, and that is why he wants him to run in with the new ball. 

"He is capable of getting you wickets in any given situation. But, just how he has got Duckett and others out, I feel he should share the new ball along with Bumrah," Shreevats said. 

Besides his bowling, Shreevats has always praised Akash Deep's batting ability from the start. He feels that Akash can even score a test ton in the next three to four years, given the opportunity. 

In a sensational display of all-round brilliance, Mita Paul powered Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers to a stunning 16-run win (DLS method) over Sobisco Smashers Malda in a rain-affected Bengal Women's Pro T20 League 2025 final match held at the iconic Eden Gardens.

Named Player of the Match, Mita Paul’s performance was nothing short of legendary, blazing an innings of 51 runs off just 52 balls and then slicing through the opposition with the ball, claiming 2 crucial wickets for just 12 runs in a miserly spell of 3 overs. Her heroics not only anchored her team’s innings but also dismantled the Malda batting line-up when it mattered most.

Read Also | Women's Cricket Exclusive: Mita Paul wants to take her game to a new level with a more attacking game plan

Batting first, Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers were bowled out for 104 in 19.5 overs. Apart from Mita’s knock, Parna Paul chipped in with a useful 14. For the Sobisco Smashers, Jeni Parveen was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 8, but her efforts fell short in the face of Mita’s dominance.

In reply, Sobisco Smashers Malda collapsed to 22 for 4 in just 5.2 overs, failing to cope with the twin spin threats of Mita Paul and Prativa Mandi (2-0-10-2). None of the Malda batters could reach double digits, underlining the complete dominance of the Tigers’ bowling unit.

Read Also | Bengal Women's Cricket Exclusive: Two out of two finals, record chase against Haryana, Jhulan Goswami, WPL and more

This electrifying win cements Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers’ reputation as fierce competitors and showcases Mita Paul as a true match-winner, rising to the occasion when it mattered most.