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Exclusive: Age does not matter, at 34, Jayojit Basu focusing on winning trophies

Jayojit Basu, who will be featuring for Sobisco Smashers Malda in the Bengal Pro T20 League 2024, at the age of 34, wants to leave a mark on the tournament and win the trophy for his team.

Jun 10, 2024, 5:19 PM5 min read

Exclusive: Age does not matter, at 34, Jayojit Basu focusing on winning trophies

It was 2014 when Jayojit Basu last played a match for Bengal. Since then, it has been more than ten years, and despite scoring tons of runs at the club level, Basu was never recalled. However, he has not lost hope of donning that Bengal jersey and, at 34, follows the "process" for the glory.

In the Bengal Pro T20 League 2024, Jayojit will be featuring for Sobisco Smashers Malda and before the first match of the season, he shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point.

"Would love to leave a mark on the tournament"

"I never looked at any tournament with a different perspective. Be it for any club, Bengal Pro T20 League or county cricket I play. I play with a motto to leave a mark on the tournament," Jayojit answered when Sportz Point asked him about his perspective on the Bengal Pro T20 league as an individual.

"This is a huge tournament by CAB, and I would love to leave a mark on the tournament. The biggest motivation is to help the team win the tournament," he added.

Jayojit debuted for Bengal Cricket team in 2011 when the game was different, and T20 cricket had just come to the scene. However, since then, the game has evolved a lot. From 200 being a huge score to being a par score, Jayojit has seen everything.

Read Also: Exclusive: From "IPL debut" to a matured all-rounder, Prayas Ray Barman aiming to "turn" things back on track with Bengal Pro T20 League

But, even during this period, the top-order batter adapted himself to the pace of the game and performed for the teams he played. After a brilliant IPL 2024, Eden Gardens surely will see more high-scoring games in the Bengal Pro T20 League, and Jayojit sounds ready for that.

Adapting to the pace of the game

Exclusive: Age does not matter, at 34, Jayojit Basu focusing on winning trophies - sportzpoint.com
Jayojit Basu going for a big shot in the 2021 season for Mohun Bagan. Image: Sportz Point

"Not only T20 cricket, even in ODI cricket 400s are getting scored, and you will see 90% of the test matches are getting results nowadays. So, cricket as a game has evolved a lot over the years," Basu told Sportz Point.

"Every era has seen different kinds of cricket. And, as a professional cricketer, if you wish to play for more than 10-15 years, you will have to adapt. Otherwise, you can not play at a good level for long."

Read Also: Bengal Pro T20 League: Full squads and streaming details

But saying those things and doing that at a cricket field against a young pacer sending rockets down the pitch or a spinner tricking with variations is a different game altogether. With age, most start to lose some bit of their game, and only a few can beat the age to find glory.

So, does age matter? "No," Basu said. Citing Cristiano Ronaldo and Novak Djokovic, Jayojit added, "One day you will stop playing. But, till the day you put down your bat and gloves, you will have to live the life of an athlete. Be it with your training, nutrition and all the other stuff, you need to be like an athlete to play at this level."

Fitness with Skill - Basu's mantra

However, along with fitness, Jayojit feels the mix of skill and fitness helps a player to go long. As per him, cricket is mainly a skill-based game, and even if you are the fittest, you will not be contributing if you can not put a bat to the ball. Similarly, if you are batting well at the nets but can not bat long enough for your team or field well, you will not be helping your team as well.

"You need to have both—fitness alongside skill. To keep contributing to your team, you have to have both. That is why I try to maintain both to keep performing."

Read Also: Exclusive: Hottest product in Bengal Pro T20 League, Pradipta Pramanik is controlling the controllable

"Jayojit Basu wants to win the Bengal Pro T20 league"

Recently, many cricketing sides have opted not to go for players above 30 and look for players who can give them more than ten years. But, as per Basu, "Bengal team under Laxmi Ratan Shukla, I don't think has looked at the age of the players. The team management has always chosen players who have performed. So, performing is the main thing."

In a T20 league like this, we have seen many players playing for the glamour or the money when they reach a certain age. But, for Basu, he has not left the hopes of representing Bengal again. Although for now, he wants to win the Bengal Pro T20 league with Sobisco Smashers Malda, and the rest will follow.

"Jayojit Basu wants to win the Bengal Pro T20 league for Sobisco Smashers Malda. The rest is what follows."

"Process is important, not the outcome. I have to think and live in the present. I cannot think about what will happen in September. I try to think about the next match including who I will be playing against and things like that," Jayojit Basu stated.

🔰 Know Your Heroes 🔰 Featuring - Jayojit Basu Bengal Pro T20 League | Cricket Association of Bengal | Arivaa Sports...

Posted by Sobisco Smashers Malda on Monday, June 10, 2024
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Bengal Cricket Exclusive: "If 100 does not work, I will score 150," Sandipan Das doesn't want to leave any stone unturned

Sandipan Das has been one of the most successful players in Kolkata Club Cricket in the last 7-8 years. However, despite performing well, he has not played a single game for Bengal since 2015.

May 1, 2025, 2:48 PM5 min read

Bengal Cricket Exclusive: "If 100 does not work, I will score 150," Sandipan Das doesn't want to leave any stone unturned | sportzpoint.com

Whether with Bhowanipur Club or East Bengal, Sandipan Das has consistently helped his teams win trophies. After achieving numerous victories, including a treble last year with Bhowanipur, the former ICC U-19 World Cup winner is now on the brink of delivering East Bengal's first league trophy in a decade.

Following his man-of-the-match performance in the semi-final against arch-rivals Mohun Bagan, Sandipan Das shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point. 

"The winning mentally is there since childhood"

Bengal Cricket Exclusive: "If 100 does not work, I will score 150," Sandipan Das doesn't want to leave any stone unturned | sportzpoint.com
Image | C.A.B.

For Sandipan, playing in the final of a championship or winning it is not new; he has been securing trophies since his U-13 days. The Bengal all-rounder attributes his winning mentality to his childhood coach, Debesh Chakraborty, who instilled this mindset in him from an early age.

“I have been winning trophies since childhood. Whether it was the Ambar Roy tournament in U-13s or any other competition, I've always been part of champion teams. Thanks to Debesh Sir, who took me to play in those tournaments, the winning mentality has stayed with me throughout my career,” Sandipan Das told Sportz Point.

Read Also | Bengal Ranji Team in Last Three Seasons: 13 opening combinations, 22 debutants and many more numbers

"If 100 is not enough, I need to score 150"

Bengal Cricket Exclusive: "If 100 does not work, I will score 150," Sandipan Das doesn't want to leave any stone unturned | sportzpoint.com
Image | C.A.B.

After contributing to India's victory in the ICC U-19 World Cup under Unmukt Chand in 2012, Sandipan was fast-tracked into the Bengal team. Just a month after the World Cup, he made his List A debut, followed by his First-Class and T20 debuts.

However, despite showing promise, he struggled to make a significant impact for Bengal and has not played a single game since January 2015. Although he has excelled in the club format and helped his teams win titles nearly every season, Sandipan found himself out of the state team.

"It has been a long time since I played for Bengal. But I do not want to blame anyone for that. I believe I should score 150 if 100 is not enough. That has been my motive. I want to improve every day as a cricketer and leave the rest to God," Sandipan expressed.

"This attitude has also helped me win for my teams. If I think 100 is enough, I might become complacent and get out. Or if I feel that taking just two wickets suffices, I might bowl a loose over. There is no room for complacency in cricket," he added.

Bengal Cricket Exclusive: "If 100 does not work, I will score 150," Sandipan Das doesn't want to leave any stone unturned | sportzpoint.com
Sandipan after his ton vs Mohun Bagan in the semi-final. Image | C.A.B.

A perfect example of this mindset occurred during Sandipan's innings for East Bengal against Mohun Bagan in the C.A.B. First Division Championship semi-final. The match was evenly poised after the first day, and one mistake from Sandipan could have tipped the scales in favor of Mohun Bagan.

At the start of Day 2, Sandipan believed they could reach 450 runs. However, after losing partners, he decided to focus on taking the game deep, even if it meant not scoring a century. Eventually, East Bengal finished with 408 runs, and Sandipan remained unbeaten on 108.

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

Monayem+Sandipan = Success in Kolkata Club Cricket

Bengal Cricket Exclusive: "If 100 does not work, I will score 150," Sandipan Das doesn't want to leave any stone unturned | sportzpoint.com
Sandipan Das with current East Bengal coach Abdul Monayem. Image collected from Facebook

Such patience and attitude of Sandipan did not develop overnight; they are the result of years of practice, dedication, and guidance from his coaches. In addition to his childhood coach, Abdul Monayem has been a constant support for Sandipan for over a decade.

Monayem is one of the most successful coaches in Kolkata club cricket, who led Bhowanipur Club to three league titles in recent years. Sandipan thrived under Monayem’s guidance, which not only helped him grow as a cricketer but also as a captain of the team.

Currently the coach of East Bengal, Monayem brought Sandipan to join the team this year, aiming for more trophies together. The success in the P. Sen Trophy and reaching the league final after nearly a decade is a testament to their strong camaraderie.

"He (Abdul Monayem) is like a mentor to me. I have been playing under him for more than ten years now. He knows me very well, and I understand his expectations. Sometimes he is like a big brother; other times, he is a friend with a supportive hand on my shoulder. This relationship has allowed him to bring out the best in the players," Sandipan shared.

"Players like Abhishek Das, Agniv Pan, and many others have been together for many years now. This group, under Abdul (Monayem) Sir, has consistently achieved great things because he understands each player, and as a team, we strive to do our best," Sandipan added.

Read Also | Bengal Cricket Exclusive: "We all know this game can make us heroes to the fans," East Bengal's Satyaki Dutta ahead of Kolkata Derby

"I enjoy being around the young kids"

In addition to being one of the top batting all-rounders in Bengal, Sandipan runs a coaching center. This initiative allows him to switch his focus from his own cricketing career and share his knowledge with the next generation.

"I believe this brings out a different side of me. Working with kids and teaching them the basics of cricket is something I love. I truly enjoy being with them," Sandipan stated.

"During my childhood, I did not have access to many facilities here in Jagaddal, so I try to give them as much as I can and share my knowledge," he concluded.

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Bengal Cricket Exclusive: Underrated, Calm and Matured Shreyan Chakraborty doing his job for East Bengal silently

Shreyan Chakraborty has been performing under pressure situations with both bat and ball for East Bengal in the last two seasons. The left-arm spinner hopes to gift trophies to the East Bengal fans.

Apr 29, 2025, 8:44 AM6 min read

Bengal Cricket Exclusive: Underrated, Calm and Matured Shreyan Chakraborty doing his job for East Bengal silently | sportzpoint.com

Shreyan Chakraborty has been one of the most underrated players in Bengal cricket in the last few seasons. The left-arm spinner has silently performed well for East Bengal in the last two seasons and bailed out the Red and Gold brigade from tough situations with bat and ball in hand. 

After helping East Bengal qualify for the C.A.B. First Division Championship final after nearly 10 years, with his 67/4 and 30 (64), Shreyan shared his thoughts with Sportz Point in an exclusive interview. 

Underated? Does it even matter?

Bengal Cricket Exclusive: Underrated, Calm and Matured Shreyan Chakraborty doing his job for East Bengal silently | sportzpoint.com
Image | C.A.B.

I have already called him underrated at the start of this interview. But does he believe he is underrated? If yes, does he enjoy that tag? 

Well, for Shreyan, it is all about getting the job done. Be it taking the main wicket of the opponent's batting lineup, scoring crucial 40-50 runs or more with the bat in the lower order when the chips are down, or breaking an important partnership, like he did in the Kolkata derby against Mohun Bagan, Shreyan just wants to help East Bengal win. 

But, he knows that at this age of modern cricket, even with the kind of performances he has delivered in the last two seasons, it is time that he breaks the underrated tag.

"Firstly, when you just want to do well for your team, it does not matter whether you are underrated or not. But, yes, when you perform and give your best day in and day out for your team, you obviously love it when people appreciate you and love you. It boosts you as an athlete," Shreyan told Sportz Point. 

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

"I have matured now as a cricketer"

Bengal Cricket Exclusive: Underrated, Calm and Matured Shreyan Chakraborty doing his job for East Bengal silently | sportzpoint.com
Image | C.A.B.

Shreyan last played for Bengal in his debut season in 2020, and later, he got COVID, which ruled him out of the team. Since then, he has not been able to break the doors of Bengal cricket even with great performances. That is why Shreyan feels that if he had the limelight on him, it might have been easier for him to get that call back to Bengal cricket again. 

"When you have the limelight on you, you get closer to the Bengal team. That is why you perform and give your 200% each day. Everyone wants to play at the highest level and do well there," Shreyan shared.

Shreyan feels he was fortunate enough to represent Bengal at the first-class level in 2020. But he feels that he did not do justice to his talent at that time in the red ball format. However, with age, more games and, most importantly, trophies, Shryean feels he is at his best in terms of maturity and skill to represent Bengal again. 

That is why he calls out to Cricket to give him another chance to play at the highest level. 

"I am fortunate that I got the chance to don that Bengal jersey in 2020. But, be it white ball or red ball, I feel I have matured now as a cricketer and at my best shape to represent Bengal again. I still hope that the team management is looking at my performances and will give me another chance to play for the state," Shreyan expressed.

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

"It is all about winning games for your teams"

Bengal Cricket Exclusive: Underrated, Calm and Matured Shreyan Chakraborty doing his job for East Bengal silently | sportzpoint.com
Image | C.A.B. 

Even though he has this constant thought of playing for Bengal again, whenever he plays for big clubs like East Bengal, the goal is entirely different for him. According to Shreyan, these big clubs want and expect trophies. To win trophies, you need to win the big moments and do well in pressure situations. That is what he focuses on during his training and match days. 

"When you play for big clubs like East Bengal, there is no chance you think about something other than helping the team to win. That's it. The focus remains on winning big moments, doing well in pressure situations. I think it is the same for everyone in the team," Shreyan stated. 

But, how does he prepare himself for those big situations? For him, it is all about keeping it simple, following the process and being aggressive, without being aggressive.

"Firstly, you need to love being in a pressure situation. I love that. I love being there and taking the team over the line. Be it with ball, bat or fielding. I just try to follow a simple process and mentally be aggressive against any opponent," the 28-year-old left-arm spinner mentioned.

Read Also | Bengal Ranji Team in Last Three Seasons: 13 opening combinations, 22 debutants and many more numbers

Adding more value with the bat"

Bengal Cricket Exclusive: Underrated, Calm and Matured Shreyan Chakraborty doing his job for East Bengal silently | sportzpoint.com
Shreyan pictured during his inning against Mohun Bagan. Image | Collected 

With the ball in hand, Shreyan has been one of Bengal's best in business. But, post 2020, he felt he needed to add more value to the team, and that is why he made a conscious effort to work on his batting and those valuable runs down the order. Throughout the entire season, Shreyan has bailed out East Bengal from tough situations, batting at the lower middle order. 

"I know that I am one of the best in business in the state in terms of bowling left-arm spin or contributing on the field. But, I wanted to have another aspect to my game so that teams could not leave me out due to team combinations."

"That is why I made a conscious effort to work on my batting in the off-season, and it has worked like magic for me. I hope to keep contributing with the bat like I have been doing in recent times." 

On the verge of a great victory

Bengal Cricket Exclusive: Underrated, Calm and Matured Shreyan Chakraborty doing his job for East Bengal silently | sportzpoint.com
Image | C.A.B.

Shreyan and the whole East Bengal team are now on the verge of gifting the fans something that they have not tasted in the last 10 years, a league championship trophy in cricket. But, they will be up against the defending champions, Bhowanipur Club, who have been the best team in Bengal in the last few seasons. 

"The good thing is that we have already tasted success in the P.Sen Trophy. And we have a team that can win from any situation against any team. Bhowanipur is a strong team. How they defeated Kalighat is quite commanding."

"I know it will be a great final against them. I am hopeful that we will be able to gift the fans the trophy they have been waiting for a long time now," Shreyan stated.

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Exclusive: "Do not call him a 'baccha', he will play T20s for India in two years," says Bihar head coach after Vaibhav Suryavanshi's historical IPL ton

Ashok Kumar, the head coach of the Bihar Cricket team, feels Viabhav Suryavanshi can play for India in T20Is in the next two years if he can improve his fitness and fielding.

Apr 28, 2025, 7:32 PM5 min read

Exclusive: "Do not call him a 'baccha', he will play T20s for India in two years," says Bihar head coach after Vaibhav Suryavanshi's historical IPL ton | sportzpoint.com
Image | BCCI

Vaibhav Suryavanshi just broke the record to become the youngest centurion in Indian Premier League history at the age of 14 years 32 days old. Not only that, with his 35-ball ton against Gujarat Titans, the opening batter from Bihar scored the second-fastest overall and fastest century by any Indian in IPL history. 

"He is different from others"

Exclusive | "He has the intent to play at the highest level," Bihar head coach on Vaibhav Suryavanshi - sportzpoint.com
Vaibhav Suryavanshi pictured during the Bengal vs Bihar Ranji Trophy match. Image | Sportz Point

Ashok Kumar, who coached Vaibhav in the Bihar U19 and men's senior team, feels that if Vaibhav Suryavanshi can work on his fielding and fitness, he will play for India in T20s in the next two years. The Bihar head coach shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point after Vaibhav's historical ton. 

"Before the match, I had a conversation with Vaibhav. I just advised him to be patient and wait for the balls in his zone," said Ashok Kumar, who feels the only thing that was missing from Vaibhav's game was patience. 

"Look, he is totally a unique player. He is different from others. I know he can be a match-winner for any team in this format," Ashok Kumar shared. 

Vaibhav was picked up by the Rajasthan Royals for a whopping 1.10 crore rupees, which made him the youngest player ever in the auction history. After that, Ashok Kumar knew that under Rahul Dravid, the youngster would learn lots of things in terms of cricket and life. 

Vaibhav not only learned but also impressed Rahul Dravid so much that he was handed the debut cap, and at just 14 years and a few days old, he became the youngest IPL player ever. Till then, everything has been like a dream for Vaibhav and his close ones. 

Read Also | Exclusive | "He has the intent to play at the highest level," Bihar head coach on Vaibhav Suryavanshi

An impactful debut

Exclusive: "Do not call him a 'baccha', he will play T20s for India in two years," says Bihar head coach after Vaibhav Suryavanshi's historical IPL ton | sportzpoint.com
Image | BCCI

His six against Shardul Thakur in the first ball he faced in the IPL surprised everyone. Even the commentators were stunned to see the youngster stepping out against the pace of Shardul in a platform like the IPL. But Ashok Kumar knew from the beginning that he could do things like this. 

"I had told you earlier that he has the talent and intent to hit anyone. Everyone thinks that he is batting aggressively. But this is his actual style of batting. You make him play 90 90-over game, he will play like this. He is natural," he shared. 

"That is why I want to tell all the coaches he will meet in his life not to make him bat like others. He should not lose his intent," he added. 

Before the historical debut, Ashok Kumar had the chance to talk with Rahul Dravid, and he told the former India coach the same thing. 

"Even I told the same thing to (Rahul) Dravid sir. He also agreed that Vaibhav should not lose his intent. I told him to work on his bowling as well. He can be a match-winner for any team."

Read Also | IPL facts: Every player to make IPL debut before turning 18

"Vaibhav wants to finish matches"

Exclusive: "Do not call him a 'baccha', he will play T20s for India in two years," says Bihar head coach after Vaibhav Suryavanshi's historical IPL ton | sportzpoint.com
Image | BCCI

Although Vaibhav had a great start to his IPL career in the first two games, he was not happy with himself for the way he got out in those matches. In fact, after the dismissal in the first match against LSG, everyone saw him shed a few drops of tears. That is why Ashok Kumar had advised him to have patience and only focus on the things which work well for him. 

"If you see his dismissal against RCB, he tried a shot that he had never played in the past. He has developed these kinds of shots in the camp. But I told him that you can try new things only after a few matches. I knew if he could wait for the bat balls, he was a good enough player to hit anyone," Ashok Kumar shared. 

"Vaibhav wants to finish games. I am sure he is disappointed not to be there till the win. And, for everyone out there, he is not a baccha (kid) in cricket. No one can call him that. Only I can call him that. It is only about time when the world realises that he is a man wrapped in a kid's body," he added. 

Vaibhav idolises Brian Lara since his childhood (although he is still a kid). He watches the former West Indian captain's old highlights to pick a few tricks to emulate. Tonight, after his ton, Brian Lara himself shared Vaibhav's video on Instagram, saying that he was entertained watching him bat. 

"If someone like Lara is watching Vaibhav bat and appreciating him, it is a great thing for Bihar and Indian cricket. The youngster in Bihar would be inspired by watching his growth. He will always have my support in his life and career," Ahsok Kumar expressed. 

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Bengal Cricket: Bhowanipur and East Bengal qualify for C.A.B. First Division League final

Defending champion Bhowanipur defeated Kalighat by 258 runs, while East Bengal defeated Mohun Bagan by 77 runs to qualify for the C.A.B. First Division League final.

Apr 26, 2025, 11:04 AM4 min read

Bengal Cricket: Bhowanipur and East Bengal qualify for C.A.B. First Division League final | sportzpoint.com

Despite valiant efforts from Bengal Ranji captain Anustup Majumdar, Bhowanipur defeated Kalighat by a huge margin of 258 runs in the semi-final of the C.A.B. First Division League Championship on Saturday at J.U. Second Campus Ground in Kolkata. On the other hand, East Bengal won the Kolkata derby at the Videocon Ground by defeating Mohun Bagan by 77 runs to reach the final of the tournament. 

Bhawanipore win despite Anustup's 154

Bengal Cricket: Anustup Majumdar's 154 went in vain as Bhowanipur defeated Kalighat by 258 runs | sportzpoint.com
 Anustup Majumdar's 154 went in vain as Bhowanipur defeated Kalighat by 258 runs. Image | C.A.B.

Chasing down Bhowanipur's mammoth 618-run target looked impossible from the start of the second inning for Kalighat. But when you have someone like Anustup Majumdar in your dressing room, you can hope for a miracle. But, that was not to be for Kalighat Club as despite a valiant 154 from 190 balls from the Bengal captain, Bhowanipur managed a huge 258-run win to enter the final. 

At the end of Day 2, Kalighat were at 188/2 and needed 430 runs in 552 balls to complete a historical chase. Anustup Majumdar was at the crease on 107 from 127 balls along with Subham Chatterjee, who was one of their best batters in the tournament so far. 

But, as soon as Rajkumar Pal opened the gate for Bhowanipur by dismissing Subham early on day 3, everything looked out of reach for Kalighat. Rajkumar then removed Kalighat's hero of the quarterfinal, Writam Porel, to make it a one-man battle for Kalighat. 

Arun Chaprana tried his best with his 32 off 35 balls, but Pradipta Pramanik proved to be too good for him. Pradipta then played the decisive move of the match by dismissing Anustup Majumdar on 154 to go one step closer to the final. 

Ravi Kumar with 66/4 was the pick of the bowlers for Bhowanipur as they defeated Kalighat to reach the final | sportzpoint.com
Ravi Kumar with 66/4 was the pick of the bowlers for Bhowanipur as they defeated Kalighat to reach the final. Image | C.A.B.

Left-arm pacer Ravi Kumar then broke through the lower middle order, to make sure the defending champion would en route to defend their title in the mega final as Kalighat were bundled out for 359. Ravi Kumar with 66/4 was the pick of the bowlers for Bhowanipur along with Pradipta Pramanik, who took 3 wickets for 75. 

Abhimanyu Easwaran was named the player of the match for his 149 in the first inning. Shakir Habib Gandhi and Vivek Singh were the other centurions for them.

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

East Bengal win the Kolkata derby despite Suvankar Bal's 148

C.A.B. First Division Championship: East Bengal win the Kolkata derby despite Suvankar Bal's 148 | sportzpoint.com
Suvankar Bal scored 148 for Mohun Bagan. Image | C.A.B.

In the second semi-final, Mohun Bagan were chasing East Bengal's steep 410-run target. But at 146/5 at the end of day 2, their fate depended on Suvankar Bal's bat. Bal had already crossed his fifty, but needed a good partner at the other end to support him. 

Vikas Singh did his best by building a 77-run partnership for the sixth wicket. But after Writtick Chatterjee dismissed him on 37, Bal had to build another partnership under the scorching heat at the Videocon Ground, in Kolkata. Sourav Halder then played a handy knock of 48 off 88 balls to shift the game towards Mohun Bagan a bit, with Suvankar Bal smashing bowlers from the other end. 

Shreyan Chakraborty's 67/4 helped East Bengal beat Mohun Bagan to reach the final of C.A.B. First Division Championship | sportzpoint.com
Shreyan Chakraborty's 67/4 helped East Bengal beat Mohun Bagan to reach the final of C.A.B. First Division Championship. Image | C.A.B.

Bal completed his hundred in 229 balls, and with four wickets in hand, it was all about East Bengal getting his wicket or him taking Mohun Bagan over the line. But East Bengal bowler Shreyan Chakraborty did the trick for East Bengal by first breaking the partnership and dismissing Sourav Halder. 

Shreyan then picked up Anurag Tiwari's wicket to make Bal feel helpless at the other end. Rohit Kumar's run out meant Bal had no other option but to go for the biggies. Shreyan then picked up Bal's wicket to send East Bengal to the final. 

Bal's valiant 148 went in vain as Mohun Bagan lost the semi-final by 77 runs. Shreyan Chakraborty with 67/4 was the pick of the bowlers for East Bengal. Sandipan Das won the player of the match for his unbeaten 108 in the first inning. Satyaki Dutta were the other centurion for East Bengal in the match.

The final will be played at the Eden Gardens after the completion of IPL 2025.

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C.A.B. First Division semis: East Bengal have the upper hand over Mohun Bagan; Anustup fighting a battle for Kalighat against Bhowanipur after Day 2

Mohun Bagan now require 264 runs in 522 balls, while East Bengal need five wickets to qualify for the final. In the second semi-final, Kalighat need 430 runs in 552 balls, chasing Bhowanupur's 618-run target.

Apr 25, 2025, 11:48 AM5 min read

C.A.B. First Division semis: East Bengal have the upper hand over Mohun Bagan; Anustup fighting a battle for Kalighat against Bhowanipur after Day 2 | sportzpoint.com

East Bengal scored 409/9 in the first inning against arch-rival Mohun Bagan A.C. with the help of a stunning unbeaten ton from Sandipan Das on Day 2 of the C.A.B. First Division Championship semifinal. In the second semi-final, Bhowanipur have nearly thrown Kalighat away by scoring a mammoth 617/6 in the first inning as Vivek Singh scored 129 from 166 balls for them. 

East Bengal in slight favour after day 2 of Kolkata derby

C.A.B. First Division semis: Sandipan Das' unbeaten ton helps East Bengal score 409 in the first inning against Mohun Bagan | sportzpoint.com
Sandipan Das' unbetaen ton helped East Bengal go over 400. Image | Facebook

The second day of the Kolkata derby in the C.A.B. First Division Championship semi-final saw many ups and downs throughout the entire day. East Bengal, who were at 310/6, were depending on former U-19 World Cup winner Sandipan Das to take them over 400. Shreyan Chakraborty did his part by building a 59-run partnership for the 7th wicket. 

But, after Shreyan's dismissal (30 off 64), all-rounders Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal and Kanishk Seth could not add much to the total. But Sandipan made sure he faced most of the deliveries and strikes at a blistering pace. The right-handed middle-order batter not only reached his hundred but also made sure that East Bengal gave Mohun Bagan a steep total to chase down in the second inning. 

East Bengal finished on 409/9 as Sandipan remained unbeaten on 108 off 236 balls. 

Suraj gave East Bengal the perfect start

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In the second inning, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Bengal's highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season, made sure the Red and Gold brigade got the perfect start. The right-handed pacer removed Shantanu in the first ball of the inning and looked lethal from the word go. 

Mohun Bagan were put under tremendous pressure after captain Sudip Kumar Gharami was also dismissed by Kanishk Seth for just 8. Kanishk, East Bengal's player of the match in the quarter-final, went through the defences of Bengal's white-ball captain and cleaned up his stumps. 

Vikas Singh then trapped Avilin Ghosh in front of the wicket just for 1. Avilin was Mohun Bagan's Cricketer of the Year last season and saved many games for them in this kind of situation. But, Vikas proved to be too good for him. 

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

At 29/3, Mohun Bagan looked nearly out of the game, but Ranjot Singh Khaira, centurion from the quarter-final, tried to build a partnership with Suvankar Bal. But Shreyan Chakraborty went through his defence with his left-arm spin to send him back to the dressing room after a good-looking 45 off 68 balls. 

Gitansh Khera was also cleaned up by Vikas Singh on 19. Suvankar Bal, meanwhile, completed his well-paced fifty and is the lone batter at the crease for Mohun Bagan at the end of Day 2. Though Mohun Bagan's tail is totally capable of hitting the ball long, at 146/5, Mohun Bagan's fate will be decided on Suvankar Bal's bat on the final day of the match. 

Mohun Bagan now require 264 runs in 522 balls, while East Bengal need five wickets to qualify for the final.

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Bhowanipur cruising, Anustup fighting a battle for Kalighat

C.A.B. First Division semis: Vivek Singh scores ton to take Bhowanipur's total to 617/6 in the first inning | sportzpoint.com
Vivek Singh scored the third century of the match for Bhowanipur. Image | Facebook

In the second semi-final at the J.U. 2nd Campus Ground in Salt Lake, Bhowanipur cruised to a mammoth 617/6 in the first inning after Vivek Singh became the third centurion from the defending champion after Abhimanyu Easwaran and Shakir Habib Gandhi scored centuries on Day 1. 

Vivek, who now plays for the Railways team in Indian domestic cricket, showcased his power and skill to ease to his hundred. Vivek was eventually stumped out by Arun Chaprana on 129 from 166 balls. Meanwhile, experienced Arindam Ghosh added 52 while Aaamir Gani added a quick 32 off 34 balls to take Bhowanipur's total to 617 in the first inning. 

Anustup's ton kept Kalighat in the game

Anustup's ton kept Kalighat in the game: C.A.B. First Division Championship Semis | sportzpoint.com
Archived Image | C.A.B.

Ravi Kumar, the left-arm pacer, continued the momentum for Bhowanipur by dismissing Shreyansh Ghosh in the first over. But, ever dependable Anustup Majumdar and Koushik Ghosh made sure Kalighat didn't leave without a fight. 

Koushik and Anustup added 127 runs for the second wicket. However, Koushik would be disappointed not to get a big score as he was caught behind by Ravi Kumar, who was the pick of the bowlers on Day 2. 

Read Also | Bengal Cricket Exclusive: Inspired by Anustup Majumdar's journey, Sumanta Gupta wants to achieve bigger things for Bengal

But, as they say, great players know when to put their hands up and show the path to the entire team. Bengal and Kalighat captain Anustup Majumdar raced to another ton in his club career to give some fight to Bhowanipur's huge total.

At the end of the day, Anustup is unbeaten on 107 off 127 balls while Subham Chatterjee, the double centurion from the pre-quarter final, is with him on 23 off 40 balls. Kalighat finished day 2 at 188/2 and need 430 runs in 552 balls to complete a historical chase.

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