Kolkata Club Cricket Exclusive: A few have gone, a few have come; Bhawanipore still remain a force

Bhawanipore have been one of the best teams in Kolkata Club Cricket as they won the Kolkata League three times in the last seven seasons. They have been at the top playing back-to-back finals and semi-finals in the last few seasons. The team that brought success to Bhawanipore Club has now been broken. But, it is still strong. Sportz Point brings you a preview of Bhawanipore Club's squad for the upcoming Kolkata Club Cricket season.

"I have a special bond with this club:" Sandipan Das

Just like last few years, Bhawanipore have again made a solid team to fight for the top spot in the Premier Division tournament in Kolkata. Their captain for the last five years is still there to lead them. Allrounder Sandipan Das yet again will be Bhawanipore's key force in the team with bat and ball. The former U19 World Cup winner has signed for his eighth season for Bhawanipore and admitted that he has a special bond with the club that has made him sign for the club, again. Moreover, he agrees with the fact that every professional player is bound to change teams in their career and it is no strange to him that a successful lot from the team has left.

"I have a special bond with this club. I have been leading this side for the last five years. Yes, professional players will always move on to different clubs at different stages of their careers. But, I feel a special connection with this club," Sandipan Das told Sportz Point.

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A pull of former Mohun Bagan players sign for Bhawanipore for the upcoming Kolkata Club Cricket season

Players like Abhishek Das, Arka Sarkar, Balkesh Yadav, Amit Santra, Vineet Maurya and Writtick Chatterjee have left the club to join other teams along with their long-time coach Abdul Monayem who was one of the reasons behind the club's success in the last few years. Abdul Monayem said goodbye to Bhawaniprore to wear the red and gold of East Bengal after 14 years. But, another experienced coach Sanjib Goel has come in to replace Monayem. Goel previously coached Mohun Bagan Athletic Club and is regarded as one of the knowledge coaches of Kolkata Maidan.

Interestingly, with Goel, a pull of former Mohun Bagan players signed for Bhawanipore at the Eden Gardens for the upcoming season. Left-arm spinners Raj Kumar Pal, and Tuhin Banerjee, batters Arindam Ghosh, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Prinan Dutta along with all-rounder Subham Sarkar have joined them from Green and Maroon. Captain Sandipan Das believes since these former Mohun Bagan players have played a lot together and understand each other, it will be a lot easier for him as a captain to lead them.

"Yes, obviously it will be easier for me to lead them as they have been playing together a lot. Along with that, they bring a lot of experience as well, which is always a handful to have as the captain of the team," Sandipan added.

Along with them, all-rounder Ritwick Roy Choudhary has joined them from Barisha Sporting Club. Sonu Naubhag and Kiaf Ahmed signed from Tapan Memorial accompanying Saikat Banerjee from Police Athletic Club. Pace bowler Alok Pratap Singh made a return to the club after spending one season with Mohammedan Sporting Club. Left-arm pacer Ravi Kumar will be his partner in crime with the ball in hand.

"It does not matter if I am changing the club since I give my all to every club I am playing for: "Ritwick after joining Bhawanipore Club

Coming from Barisha Sporting Club, Ritwick Roy Choudhary said that he does not feel like coming to a new entity altogether. The all-rounder had already fixed his mind about joining Bhawanipore Club at the end of the last season. As per him, since he gives his everything for any club he plays for, it does not matter that much to him even when he changes the club. The most important thing for him is to enjoy the game and keep performing.

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"For me, the two most important things are to enjoy my game and give my all whenever I am playing along with preparing well. So, it does not matter if I am changing the club, since those three things remain the same for me," Ritwick told Sportz Point. Ritwick has also confirmed to Sportz Point that he is fully fit to bowl again and he will always be ready whenever the captain feels like using him.

Even though Bhwanipore were forced to bring some new faces for the upcoming Kolkata Club Cricket season, there are few players who stuck with them this year as well. Bengal all-rounder Pradipta Pramanik and Amir Gani along with Railways batter Vivek Singh will don Bhawanipore's jersey yet again this year.