130 years of rich history, with someone like Swami Vivekananda on its list of alumni, and yet the Town Club never had any success in Kolkata Club Cricket’s history. Numerous captains and first-class players couldn’t do it, but a boy from Tufanganj, a city nearly 700 km north of Kolkata, did so for them when they defeated Mohun Bagan Athletic Club to win their maiden first-division title on Saturday.
Subham Sarkar led Town Club to their historic first division championship title as they outclassed the Mariners by virtue of a 50-run first-inning lead at the J.U. Second Campus ground in Kolkata. After a tough battle for nearly a decade in Kolkata, the boy from North Bengal now wants to become an automatic choice for the Bengal team.
“One of the greatest moments of my career,” Subham Sarkar said when Sportz Point contacted him for an exclusive interview right after he had lifted the title.
"We were playing to win the title"
Town Club, despite creating many great teams in the past, have always failed to cross the line when it came to tasting monumental success. They’re usually written off as knockout bait for the giants, but this season, they rewrote the script.
“I know no one had believed that we could lift the title. I knew we were the underdogs. But from the start of the season, we were not playing to reach the semis or the knockout. This time we are actually playing to win the title,” Subham expressed.
But executing that strategy on a cricket field is far easier said than done. Subham and his men, however, were ready for the challenge.
Handed the captaincy from day one for the first time in his career, the pressure was on. After a gruelling failure in the T20 tournament, Subham Sarkar had to regroup his troops and ensure they didn’t just bounce back, but marched straight toward history.
And that is why even after playing for teams like Kalighat and Mohun Bagan Athletic Club in the past, the success with Town Club has given Subham a different taste of success.
“When I was with Mohun Bagan, I was their youngest player. I was in my learning phase then. Although I’m still learning, this time I feel the responsibility and the trust that was shown in me have made me a more mature cricketer, which has reflected in my performances as well,” Subham shared.
From underdogs to champions - the belief that changed everything
In their most important semifinal game against last year’s joint winners, Bhowaniour Club, Subham was the Player of the Match for his bowling spell. In the final, he showcased calmness with his unbeaten 66 with the bat that eventually made a whole lot of difference on the scoreboard.
But, for Subham Sarkar, it has never been about the individual performances. It is the collective fight the team has shown that has taken them to creating history.
“We had a very talented young unit which was eager to play as a team, and I feel that when you beat a team like Mohun Bagan in a mega final, you cannot do it alone. Jack (Surojit Lahiri) daa, from the start of the season, had instilled the belief in our hearts that we were brought into this club to become a champion and that worked like magic throughout the entire season.”
What does Subham need to break into the Bengal team?
Runs in crucial times, wickets throughout the season, and yet Subham has not been able to break into the Bengal team to fulfil his dream of representing the state. But will this title now influence his selection process in the upcoming season? Subham hopes so, but he does not want to be a player who just plays one game and never gets mentioned again.
Subham Sarkar wants to be an automatic choice.
“I feel the selectors’ and coaches’ jobs are really tough. They have to keep the conditions, balance of the team, and the combination in consideration before naming a playing XI. Now, after being there with the squad in the last four games of the season, I feel that I need to become someone who is an automatic choice in the playing XI.”
“If the team is playing an all-rounder, I need to ensure that I am worthy enough to get selected to play that role. If the team is looking for a medium pacer who can run in all day, I should be an automatic choice there as well. Even with the bat, if they want someone who can bat in the middle and take the team over the line, I need to be an automatic choice for that team as well.”
Read also: 7 uncapped players to watch out for in Bengal T20 League 2026.
The influence of Sachin, Laxmi Shukla and Shami
Subham, who, just like any other 90s kid in India, started playing cricket watching Sachin Tendulkar, was influenced by Laxmi Ratan Shukla’s ability as an all-rounder during his Bengal days. Last season, Subham was lucky to be around the former Bengal all-rounder and learn.
“More than the skills, the runs he scored, the wickets he took, it was his guts and fearlessness that always stood out for me. I hope and wish that I’ll be able to bring that kind of success that he achieved during his days,” Subham stated.
Along with being coached by Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Subham was fortunate enough to be around Mohammad Shami during the last season. And he did not let the chance go away without learning a few tricks from the star pacer.
“It was surreal to be around someone like Mohammad Shami. I tried to know how he presents that beautiful seam in every ball and how he stays fit. He told me to work on the basics, to bowl more and stay bowling fit,” the 30-year-old all-rounder shared.
Apart from everything that happened on the field in the last 12 months, Subham’s personal life has taken a turn as well. He is now married to his long-term friend, and he feels it’s all the charm of the ‘lady luck’ which is finally fixing the puzzles of his career.
“Yes, we can say that Lady Luck has worked like magic. We knew each other for a long time, and after our engagement, I got my first call for the Ranji Trophy team. Now I’ve been able to lead Town Club to a historic title as well. Fingers crossed everything keeps on going like this,” he concluded.
In the upcoming Bengal T20 League 2026, Subham will represent the Rashmi Medinipur Wizards. After a huge success in the red ball, the all-rounder would hope to continue his success in the white ball cricket, too.
