"We have been told to play for the pride of the state", Abhishek Tamang's firm voice meant they means business. The Bengal U-25 Cricket Team is preparing for the newly added U-25 Tournament by BCCI. Cricket Association Of Bengal has not left any stone unturned to win the championship. Laxmi Ratan Shukla, the former Bengal captain has been given the responsibility to make these players ready for the bigger stage. An internal part of the group, all-rounder Abhishek Tamang shared his thoughts via an exclusive interview with us.
Abhishek has been in the Bengal's age-group scenario since his under-14 days. But the spark came in the 2018 season when he made a comeback in the Under 23 team. A gun fielder, an off-spin bowler who idolises Ravi Ashwin came up through consistent performances in Kolkata Club Cricket.
I took 33 wickets for Rajasthan Cricket Club in 2018-19. That season helped me to get back in the Bnegal U-23 squad. From there on it's been a rise for me.
Abhishek Tamang on his 2018-19 season and comenack in to the Bengal U-23 team
On fairly smaller grounds in Kolkata, Abhishek Tamang had to fight to flight the ball sometimes. However, he feels, it is the game reading ability that has given him success with the ball. "I try to read the batter's mind. Then I back myself to get them out with my skills", Tamang told us. "I focus more on my stock delivery. Variations come after that", he added.
Cricket Association of Bengal already arranged a tournament for the U-25 boys to prepare. "CAB U25 Emerging Players' League" has been a successful one. Moreover, it gave nearly a pull of 60 players to get ready for the next step. "Yeah, the competition got tougher with the league. But, as players we look for this kind of opportunities to get better", Abhishek told about the CAB's initiative to promote young talent through this league.
Abhishek Tamang in CAB U25 Emerging Players League playing for CAB Blue Team. Image - Instagram/CABCricket
Abhishek looks up to Ravichandran Ashwin's career as a guideline. He somehow wants to emulate what he has been able to do on the field and how he did it. "I mean, Ashwin's stats are there to see for everybody. Starting as an opener how he has been able to level up his game at a higher level is been absolutely legendary", Tamang's love for Ashwin was there to notice in his words.
Already a champion in the Bengal T20 Challenge, a runner-up in the Emerging Player's League, Abhishek Tmanag has ticked off every box in 2021. Now, with Laxmi Ratan Shukla's guidance and motivation he just wants to do everything he can do to make Bengal cricket move forward.
Asia cup 2025: Team India's probable squad; Siraj may be rested; Gill’s inclusion uncertain
There is no official information yet as to when Team India's squad will be announced. But the team's possible playing XI for Asia Cup 2025 can be something like this.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has officially released the full schedule of Asia Cup 2025. The tournament will start in UAE from 9 September. A total of eight teams will participate in this tournament divided into two groups and 19 matches will be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
At the moment, the Indian team management is busy finalizing a squad that has a balance of experience and youthful enthusiasm. The team will not play any cricket for more than a month at the moment. The long and tiring Test series against England ended on Monday. Now the team's next assignment will be Asia Cup 2025. Now it will be interesting to see which players make it to the team for this tournament.
However, there is no official information yet as to when Team India's squad will be announced. But the team's possible playing XI can be something like this.
The command of the Indian team in the Asia Cup can be in the hands of Suryakumar Yadav, although the regular captain of the T20 team Surya is trying to regain fitness after hernia surgery.
He is training at the National Cricket Academy, there is still uncertainty about his availability. If he does not play, then Hardik Pandya could be the biggest contender for captaincy, while Axar Patel could be his deputy.
India's potential batsmen for Asia Cup 2025
Sanju Samson will be the first choice batsman in Team India's batting department. He scored 285 runs in 9 innings this year, averaging 35, and his place in the team is almost certain. His opening partner will be Abhishek Sharma, who recorded a blistering strike rate of 193 in 14 matches in IPL 2025.
Yashasvi Jaiswal can be kept as a reserve opener, who will be fielded in case of injury or need, while Riyan Parag can also definitely find a place in the team. Tilak Verma is also likely to be in the team.
At the same time, Shreyas Iyer scored 604 runs in 17 matches in the IPL and took Punjab Kings to their second final, which has strengthened his claim. At the same time, Tilak Verma is also almost certain to be in the squad and play all the matches, as he scored 343 runs.
Possible options for wicketkeeper and all-rounder
Even though Sanju Samson is present on the wicketkeeper front, Jitesh Sharma's return as the main wicketkeeper is possible, along with him Dhruv Jurel's name can also be in the list. But between Jurel and Jitesh, the RCB wicketkeeper may have the upper hand as he scored 261 runs in the IPL while playing for RCB and has become a contender to be included in the team again due to his excellent performance.
There can also be a place for Ishan Kishan in the team. His return to the Indian senior team has not been possible for a long time. Recently, he must have caught the attention of the management by performing brilliantly in county cricket.
As an all-rounder, Hardik Pandya is a permanent fixture in the team and it is almost impossible to drop him. Along with him, Washington Sundar is also in contention. Washington Sundar may have proved to be a reliable all-rounder for Team India, but he did not get many opportunities in the IPL. Axar Patel will definitely have a place in the team as the vice-captain.
Bowlers who are most likely to be in the team
In bowling, Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy are certain to be in the team. Along with them, Harshit Rana can also be seen in the team. The return of Kuldeep Yadav is also almost certain, who did not play a single match on the England tour but his selection in the Asia Cup is considered certain.
If Bumrah and Shami are not in the team, then the fast bowling can be led by Mohammed Siraj, along with whom Prasidh Krishna is also a strong option.
Shubman Gill is in great form and he scored 650 runs in 15 matches in IPL. His bat also spoke loudly on the England tour. Although there is still a lot of time for the Asia Cup, Gill has been out of India's T20 team for a long time. He played his last match against Sri Lanka on 30 July 2024.
KL Rahul's selection in batting is also uncertain, while Rishabh Pant is on 6 weeks rest after a toe fracture and it is not clear whether he will be fit in time or not. Apart from this, players like Ravi Bishnoi and Rinku Singh may be out of the team due to poor IPL performance. Bishnoi took only 9 wickets in 11 matches, while Rinku Singh scored 206 runs in 13 matches and weakened his chances.
The biggest concern for Team India is in fast bowling, where Jasprit Bumrah may not play in Asia Cup 2025 due to workload management. Mohammed Shami's fitness is also in question as he is still recovering from injury. Nitish Kumar Reddy can also be dropped from the team. He could neither show any magic in IPL nor could he give any impressive performance on the England tour.
Bengal Cricket: Sudip Gharami and Tanusree Sarkar win C.A.B Cricketer of the Year Awards 2025; Rahul Prasad shines in U23
Sudip Gharami and Tanusree Sarkar won the C.A.B. Cricketer of the Year 2024/25 awards for men's and women's, respectively. Rahul Prasad won everything in the Men's U23 category. Dhara Gujjar won the highest run getter in Senior Women's ODI award.
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?
Sudip Gharami was named the C.A.B. Cricketer of the Year for 2024-25 season. Image | CAB Media
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.
Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal wins C.A.B. Highest Wicket-taker of the Year Award for consecutive seasons. Image | C.A.B. Media
Sudip Chatterjee earned the Highest Run Getter for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, andSuraj Sindhu Jaiswal will be honoured as the Highest Wicket Taker in the same tournament.
Tanusree Sarkar won the Best Senior Women's Cricketer of the Year Award. Image | C.A.B.
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 Ishaquerecognised 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.
Rahul Prasad won all the awards in U-23 Men's Category. Image | C.A.B.
Among the junior categories, Rahul Prasad dominated the under-23 men’s section, securing multiple awards, including Best Cricketer and Highest Wicket Taker.
Dyuti Paul won the Best U-23 Women's Cricketer of the Year Award. Image | C.A.B.
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.
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.
Indian Cricket Team's upcoming schedule (men and women)
The men’s and women’s Indian cricket teams will compete in multiple series at home and away in the upcoming days. Let's have a look at Indian Cricket Team's upcoming schedule.
The men’s and women’s Indian cricket teams will compete in multiple series at home and away, including Asia Cup and Women's ODI World Cup in the incoming days.
Let's have a look at Indian Cricket Team's upcoming schedule.
After the series between India and England, with India's tour of Bangladesh postponed till 2026, as per the current situation, the Indian team will not be able to play any more cricket in August.
The next tournament for the Indian Men's Cricket team will be the 2025 Asia Cup, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In Test cricket, India will next be seen playing two-match home series against West Indies and South Africa.
Between the two Test series, the team will tour Australia for ODI and T20I series. India will also play home series in both white-ball formats against South Africa and New Zealand before their T20 World Cup.
Women's team try to claim their maiden ICC trophy
The Indian women’s cricket team started its year with a three-match ODI series at home against Ireland in January's second week. The Women’s Premier League (WPL) was played in February-March.
The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup will be hosted in India and Sri Lanka. The tournament starts from September 30 with the final scheduled for November 2. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side will have the perfect stage to claim their maiden ICC trophy. The team has finished as the runners-up twice before in the ODI World Cup.
Exclusive: 'Honoured' Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal can't wait to bowl alongside Indian pacers in Duleep Trophy 2025
Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal has taken 60 wickets in the 12 first-class matches he has played so far in his career for Bengal. He was the highest wicket-taker for Bengal in both seasons he has played.
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
Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal won the player of the match medalfor his 8-wicket haul against Assam in Ranji Trophy 2023-24. Image | CAB
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 taken60 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."
Suraj in the background as Shami delivered ball during MP vs Bengal Ranji Trophy match. Image | PTI via ESPN Cricinfo
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.
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."
Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal scored his maiden first-class ton against Punjab at Eden Gardens. Image | CAB
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.
BCCI has announced the schedule for the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025 which begins on August 28 in Bengaluru. After this, the announcement of the names of team captains has also started. This time also, like the old format, teams from four zones will participate in it. Now, as per the latest developments, the squad of West Zone has been announced.
While Shardul Thakur has been made the new captain of the team, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara have not found a place in the team.
Shreyas and Jaiswal will play under Shardul's captaincy
The West Zone team has been announced for the Duleep Trophy. This time the captaincy has been handed over to Shardul Thakur. Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal will be seen playing under the captaincy of Shardul Thakur. Apart from this, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Tushar Deshpande have also been included in the team.
However, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara, who have been playing continuously for this team, are not seen in the squad this time.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane last played a Test match for India in 2023. Pujara played a crucial role in India’s Test series victories in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21. Notably, Rahane captained Team India to a memorable Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in 2020-21 despite several key players being unavailable.
Shreyas Iyer set to available for West Zone
Shreyas Iyer had made himself available for the upcoming Duleep Trophy. The middle-order batter has played 14 Test matches for India. However, he has not been part of the Test setup since February 2024, when he last featured against England.
Iyer was a key figure in India’s Champions Trophy-winning campaign in Dubai earlier this year. He also scored 480 runs in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy at an average of 68.57, including two centuries. He continued his form into the IPL, where he led Punjab Kings to their first final in over a decade.
According to Cricbuzz, South Zone and West Zone have been handed direct qualification into the Duleep Trophy 2025 semifinals. And the two quarterfinals are already set.
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