"I feel my journey so far has made me tough," says Sumanta Gupta who now wants to win trophies for Bengal

Suman Gupta has been in and out of the Bengal team in the last 3-4 years. Since his debut in the 2017-18 season, Sumanta Gupta has played 6 List-A matches in 4 T20 matches for Bengal. After making a tough journey from a small town named Rampurhat, he feels that it is his journey that made him strong enough to come back to club cricket and score runs to make a comeback in the Bengal squad years after years. After taking his team home against the Customs club in the CAB First-division Qualifier Pre-quarter finals match, Sumanta Gupta shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point.

Sumanta is with the Barisha Sporting Club for the last three years. But, they are yet to win a trophy in the first division cricket despite having one of the most talented teams in the league. "Yes, we have not been able to win the trophies. We have played the semis and all but the trophy has not come yet. We have the talent to win a trophy. But, it's all about winning it the first time. I know how it feels to win trophies. I won it with the Kalighat club, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan as well. These young players need to have the taste of winning it for the first time. After that, we will win many more," Gupta sounded hopeful.

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Although Sumanta has been touted as one of the finest of Bengal cricket in recent times, he has been in and out of the Bengal team quite a lot. Be it his consistency or some other issues, he is yet to do justice to his talent at the bigger stage as said by many pundits of Bengal cricket. "Yes, I have been in and out of the team since making my debut. But, I have always made a comeback. This has been my strength. I know my chance will come again. But, this time I will have to make sure that I hold on to those opportunities," Sumanta added.

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"Truly speaking, I will have to choose better balls. I am working on that. Besides that, I have always been a team player. I play according to the situation of the team and try to contribute to the team's success. I am getting better every day and I am quite sure I will be able to bring trophies to Bengal cricket in the coming 3-4 years," he further added.

But, making comeback years after years is not easy for any cricketers. However, Sumanta feels it is his journey in life that made him strong enough to make comebacks years after years.

"Coming from Rampurhat and playing in Kolkata was never easy. I and my father used to stay at the guest house so that I could play cricket in Kolkata. I think those tough times have made me mentally very strong. But this journey would not have been possible without the support of my father, wife and Selvi (my niece). They have been pillars of my strength throughout that period.

Along with them Pranob Nandy sir changed my career and life. Without his guidence, it would never be possible for me to make this journey.

Sumanta Gupta, the all-rounder

Sumanta has been working on his leg spin quite a lot in recent years. He feels if you want to be in the team you need to be ready to contribute in any way possible. But, it is not easy to balance it out when you are trying to perfect two skills at a time.

"I bowl in the nets whenever I have the time. Even I am trying to bowl off-spin to left-handers to include more variations to my bowling. But, if I put 40% effort into my bowling, I put 140% into my batting. I do not compromise on that," he answered.

"Not only that, I take pride in my fielding as well. I can proudly say I am one of the four best fielders in Bengal. The aim is to contribute to the team's cause in every way."

Sumanta Gupta

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Dream School of Cricket

Sumanta has tried to give it back to his community in his own way. His dream project "Dream School of Cricket" is up and running now. Sumanta and his partner Avijit both have the dream that many players from their camp will go on to play for Bengal and India. Both of them take are of the lodging and flooding of all the players who come to Kolkata from Rampurhat to play cricket in the City of Joy.

"This is my dream. I want the young kinds of Rampurhat to have a smoother journey in cricket. Me and Avijit (Mondal) are trying our best every day to help the young cricketers. Manoj Tiwary had came to inagurate the camp along with Abhijit Ganguly. Now, we just want that Bibhum District Association allow these kids to play for the district teams.