Ranji Trophy 2024/25 UP vs Bengal: Bengal earn 3 points by virtue of first-inning's lead
Catch the highlights of the UP vs Bengal match in the Ranji Trophy 2024/25 opener in Lucknow as Bengal earned three points by virtue of the first inning's lead.
Hello and welcome to Sportz Point's LIVE coverage of the Ranji Trophy 2024/25 season.
Build Up
For the next four days, we will cover the Uttar Pradesh vs Bengal match, to be played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The last time Bengal had faced Uttar Pradesh in a Ranji Trophy match, Bhubneshwar Kumar had picked up 8/41 in the first inning.
However, this time, he will not be there in the team, as UP decided to leave him out of the squad for the first two games of the season. Meantime, Bengal will be led by their most experienced batter in the team, Anustup Majumdar, who has top-scored for them in Ranji Trophy twice in the last three seasons.
Bengal will also be boosted by the presence of in-form Abhimanyu Easwaran, Abishek Porel and Mukesh Kumar, who were impressive in the Duleep Trophy. On the other hand, this will be the first time, UP will be led by their wicket-keeper batter Aryan Juyal. Priyam Garg, Nitish Rana, Ankit Rajpoot and Aaqib Khan will be other players to watch out from their team.
This is Koushik Biswas, who will be bringing you all the LIVE updates of the Uttar Pradesh vs Bengal match from the web desk.
LIVE Updates
Oct 14, 2024, 1:14 PM
Garg's stunning ton helps UP get one point
Former India U-19 Captain Priyam Garg stood tall to give Uttar Pradesh one point at home. Garg finished at unbeaten 105 as UP scored 162/6 in the second inning.
Bengal: 311 & 254/3d
UP: 292 & 162/6
Bengal 3 points, UP 1 point.
Oct 14, 2024, 9:24 AM
Tea, Day 4: Bengal need 6 wickets, UP need 192 runs
The game hangs in the balance as Bengal will need 6 wickets in the final session of the match for six points while UP will need 192 for a miraculous win. Do not think UP will go for the runs and Bengal will be the one going for the kill.
Oct 14, 2024, 9:09 AM
Good catch from Avilin Ghosh to dismiss Nitish Rana | UP 79/4
Mukesh Kumar comes back and does the trick for Bengal. He gets Nitish Rana, caught at a backward point. It is the substitute fielder Avilin Ghosh, who takes a good, sharp catch to get Bengal's 4th.
Bengal need six more wickets to win.
Oct 14, 2024, 8:20 AM
Bengal bowlers are on fire | UP 47/3
Md. Kaif and Mukesh Kumar with some early damage for Bengal with the ball. Kaif has already picked up two wickets in three overs. Mukesh with the other wicket.
Oct 14, 2024, 6:27 AM
Bengal going for the six points
Bengal declare at 254/3 and give Uttar Pradesh a target of 272 runs to chase in the last two session of the match. Brave decision from the Bengal camp. They are going for the six points now.
Bengal 254/3
Sudip Chatterjee 93
Abhimanyu Easwaran 127*
Oct 14, 2024, 6:05 AM
Abhimanyu Easwaran scores his 27th first-class ton
This man is one of the prime example of consistency in Indian domestic cricket. He scores his 27th first class ton and moves one inch closer to that Indian cap.
Bengal 249/3. Lead by 268.
Oct 14, 2024, 6:00 AM
Sudip Chatterjee goes for 93
After a century in the first inning, the left-handed opener showed his class in the second inning as well. However, he missed the chance to make it two in two innings and was dismissed by Saurabh Kumar on 93.
Bengal 212/1. Lead by 231.
Oct 13, 2024, 11:18 AM
End of Day 3 | Bengal lead by 160 runs
Bengal finish the day on high as openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sudip Chatterjee remained unbeaten till the end of the day. Eswaran is unbeaten at 78 from 107 balls while Suip is not out at 59 from 109 balls.
Bengal 141/0 and lead by 160 runs.
Oct 13, 2024, 10:03 AM
Fifties for Abhimanyu & Sudip
Fifties for both the Bengal openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sudip Chatterjee. Bengal 115/0, leading by 134.
Oct 13, 2024, 7:12 AM
First Inning: UP all-out for 292
Uttar Pradesh all-out for 292 as Bengal get the crucial 19-run lead in the first inning. Mukesh Kumar was fabulous with his 43/4 while Shahbaz Ahmed was top-notch with his 96/4.
Bengal: 311 (Chatterjee 116, Yash Dayal 27/4)
UP: 292 ( Aryan Juyal 92, Mukesh Kumar 43/4)
Bengal lead by 19 runs.
Oct 12, 2024, 10:22 AM
Shahbaz gets Nitish Rana: UP 155/3
Shahbaz Ahmed gets his third as UP lost their third wicket. Rana, who was looking good on 32, was trapped by Shahbaz.
Oct 12, 2024, 8:27 AM
Two back-to-back wickets for Bengal | UP 86/2
After a hard toil in the first 25 overs, Bengal were finally able to break the opening partnership between Juyal and Swastik. Shahbaz Ahmed drew the first blood for Bengal by trapping Swastik (41) in front of the wicket and then Md. Kaif got rid of Priyam Garg for 2, to make a comeback in the second session.
Oct 12, 2024, 7:29 AM
UP: Great start for Uttar Pradesh
Openers Juyal and Swastik have given a solid start to Uttar Pradesh's inning as the partnership now reaches 60-mark.
Mukesh Kumar looked good for Bengal, but still has not been able to pick up any wickets so far.
Oct 12, 2024, 5:13 AM
First inning: Bengal all-out for 311; Dayal gets 4
Yash Dayal gets his fourth as the pacer bounced out Md. Kaif. Bengal all-out for 311.
Sudip Chatterjee 116; Gharami 90
Dayal 27/4; Vipraj Nigam 81/4
Oct 12, 2024, 5:00 AM
Bengal 304/9: Dayal gets his third
Dayal with the new ball bowls a swinging yorker to rattle the stumps. Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal goes for 15.
Oct 12, 2024, 4:55 AM
Bengal 297/8 | Dayal gets Shahbaz
This time Dayal gets Shahbaz tarpped in front of the wicket with an inswinger. Shahbaz's head was already on the fifth stump and he could not balance himself to play the ball. Easy decision for the umpire and he goes after a good 44 from 80 balls.
Oct 12, 2024, 4:31 AM
Nitish Rana drops Shahbaz Ahmed
Brilliant from Yash Dayal, who was able to get the nick from the good length after a good bouncer pushed him a bit back. But, Rana missed the catch standing in the slip.
Oct 12, 2024, 4:15 AM
Day two starts
Day two of the match starts in Lucknow as we can see some fans coming to the ground as well.
Oct 11, 2024, 1:39 PM
End of day 1: Bengal 269/7
Uttar Pradesh made a solid comeback in the final session of the day as they picked up four wickets in the final session of the day. Leg spinner Vipraj Nigam was the star of the show for them with four wickets after a stellar performance with the bat from Sudip Gharami (90) and Sudip Chatterjee (116).
Shahbaz Ahmed (26*) and Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal (0*) are at the crease for Bengal.
Oct 11, 2024, 10:19 AM
Bengal: Bengal lose their fourth!
Abishek Porel is run out and UP make a comeback in the first inning.
Bengal 217/4.
Oct 11, 2024, 10:00 AM
Bengal: 100 for Sudip Gharami as well!
Oct 11, 2024, 9:31 AM
Bengal: Stunning hundred from Sudip Chatterjee
A stunning comeback hundred from Sudip Chatterjee!
A terrific century from the southpaw batter!
Oct 11, 2024, 7:58 AM
Bengal: Fifties for Both Sudips
Sudip Chatterjee and Sudip Gharami completed their fifties as they crossed their 100-run partnership for the second wicket.
Oct 11, 2024, 6:38 AM
Day 1 Lunch: Bengal 87/1
Bengal won the first session despite an early dismissal of in-form Abhimanyu Easwaran, who departed on 5 from 17 balls after nicking one behind against Yash Dayal.
However, Sudip Chatterjee, who was sent as the opener, proved his mettle with a solid partnership with young Sudip Kumar Gharami to win the session for Bengal.
Ankit Rajpoot, Saurabh Kumar and Aaqib Khan did their best but could not break the partnership between the two Sudips.
Bengal 87/1
Chatterjee 41* (92)
Gharami 31* (66)
Oct 11, 2024, 4:21 AM
Playing XIs: Bengal
A R Easwaran, Sudip Chatterjee, Sudip Kumar Gharami, Anustup Majumdar, Abishek Porel, Wriddhiman Saha, Shahbaz, Writtick Bijoy Chatterjee, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mohammad Kaif, Mukesh Kumar
ENG-A vs IND-A: Karun Nair makes solid return to India set up; scores unbeaten 186 on Day 1
Karun Nair headlined the day with a solid, unbeaten 186 with the bat for India A against England Lions, in the first unofficial test match. Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel also scored fifties.
India A started their England tour on a great note with a solid Day 1 display against the England Lions in Canterbury. Karun Nair headlined the day with a solid, unbeaten 186 with the bat for India A.
England Lions captain James Rew won the toss and decided to bowl first on a greenish pitch at the St. Lawrence Ground.
When it looked like that, Rew took the right decision of bowling first, Sarfaraz Khan and Karun Nair put up a 181-run partnership for the third wicket to give India A the advantage after Day 1’s play.
Karun Nair, who last played a test match in 2017, continued his great form and completed his fifty in 85 balls.
Soon, Sarfraz Khan, who was dropped from the test squad, completed his fifty in 84 balls as well. When both batters were looking to get to the hundred mark first, Sarfraz was caught down the leg side on 92 off 119 balls and missed his ton.
Sarfaraz Khan gets dismissed 8 short of a well-deserved hundred.
Sarfaraz was looking good but was eventually caught down the leg side on 92.
Nair, who was dropped on 89 off Ajeet Singh Dale, completed his 24th first-class ton off 155 balls.
Post that, incoming batter Dhruv Jurel and Nair started smashing the bowlers and changed their gears. Nair reached the landmark of 150 in 205 balls while Jurel reached his fifty in just 68 balls.
At the end of Day 1 of the 4-day unofficial test match, Jurel remained unbeaten on 82 off 104 balls while Nair remained unbeaten on 186 from 246 balls, with India A finishing with 409/3.
Outstation Players in Bengal Pro T20 League: Why It’s Unethical & Illegal
In the latest episode of "Cricket Talks Without Fancy Edits", uncover the controversy surrounding the Bengal Pro T20 League! In this video, we dive into why including outstation players as Bengal players is both unethical and illegal.
The Bengal Pro T20 League, a premier domestic cricket competition in West Bengal, is meant to be a stage for local talent to shine. Launched to nurture and showcase Bengal’s cricketers, the league has been a source of pride for the state’s cricket fans.
However, the recently concluded Season 2 draft has sparked a firestorm of controversy. Reports have surfaced that outstation players—those not originally from West Bengal—are being registered as Bengal players, allegedly through falsified documentation.
This practice has raised serious ethical and legal questions, with fans and critics alike accusing the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and franchise teams of undermining the spirit of the league. Today, we dive into why this is not just unfair but potentially illegal, and what it means for the future of Bengal cricket.
India U19 squad for England tour: Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Ayush Mhatre and Bengal's Yudhajit Guha in the squad
IPL stars Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ayush Mahtre have been named in the India U19 squad for the upcoming England tour, along with Bengal pacer Yudhajit Guha. Mahtre has been named the captain of the side.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the India U19 (men's) squad for the upcoming England tour, scheduled from June 24 to July 23, 2025.
This tour will have a 50-over warm-up match, followed by a five-match Youth One-Day series andtwo Multi-Day matches against England U19.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has already made his name as the youngest ever centurion in IPL history at just 14 years of age, has been picked for the tour. Another IPL star, Ayush Mahtre, who has impressed with his striking abilities for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025, has been made the captain of the squad.
Abhigyan Kundu will be Mahtre's deputy for the whole tour.
Bengal pacer Yudhajit Guha has been named in the squad as well. Guha had earlier featured for the India U19 team in the U-19 Asia Cup as well.
Outsiders loved, Bengal talents ignored in Bengal Pro T20 League 2025
In the recently concluded Bengal Pro T20 League 2025 drafting, it was seen how players who are from other states were taken in franchise teams, depriving homegrown Bengal talents. Sportz Point explains the situation with examples and proof.
In recent years and decades, Bengal cricket has frequently witnessed the emergence of players from outside the region, who quickly become integral to Bengal's cricket scene. This trend was evident during the recently concluded draft for the Men's Bengal Pro T20 League 2025.
It is important to clarify that we are not referring to outstation players, like Rohan Gavaskar and Arun Lal, who came to Bengal from other states and made it their home for cricket.
Instead, we are talking about cricketers from outside West Bengal who are arriving here and illegally obtaining Aadhaar cards and other documents with false addresses.
Fake addresses, corruption and outsiders in Bengal cricket
These players are rapidly rising through the ranks, some based on merit while others without any noteworthy performances, and they are moving on to represent the state at various levels. Furthermore, those who are advancing are bringing more players from their home states to Bengal and creating paths for them.
This situation points to a larger conspiracy involving club officials who are allegedly accepting bribes. Some of these officials are supposedly encouraging players to participate without payment in exchange for assisting them in gaining entry into Bengal under-age teams or even the Bengal Pro T20 League squads.
It's worth noting that platforms like the Bengal Pro T20 League provide players with exposure to IPL scouts and teams, which can significantly boost their careers. Players like Sai Sudharasan, Priyansh Arya, Digvesh Rathi, Vipraj Nigam, and Ashwani Kumar have all emerged from their respective state T20 leagues.
Consequently, these outstation players have come to believe that if they cannot succeed in their own state, they can come to Bengal, create illegal documents, collaborate with certain club officials, and gain access to platforms like the Bengal Pro T20 League.
This situation is depriving talented young cricketers from Bengal, who have been performing well at the club level, of opportunities.
In a recent video, presented in Bengali, Sportz Point addressed these issues, which was well received within the Bengal cricket community. We have translated this information into English to ensure the message reaches a wider audience across the nation.
Siddharth Patidar - supposed to play in both MPT20 League and Bengal Pro T20 League
One such instance is Siddharth Patidar, a player from Madhya Pradesh who has represented MP in the past and participated in the MP T20 League since 2022. He is now claimed to be a local player in Bengal.
Patidar is currently a member of the Jabalpur Royal Lions and will be playing under Saransh Jain in the tournament.
This Instagram post clearly suggest that Patidar will be playing in MP T20 League
How can a player local to the MP T20 League also be considered a local player in West Bengal? This suggests he was provided with illegal documentation to verify his status as a Bengal domestic player.
The MP T20 League is set to commence on June 12, and it will be interesting to see how Patidar competes in two different state leagues, claiming residency in both Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal.
Sandeep Tomar - played in UP T20 League, but has documents of West Bengal
Another player, Sandeep Tomar, known to be from Uttar Pradesh, also appears to possess Bengal documents in his name. Sandeep has previously participated in the UP T20 League as a local player, and last season, he played in the Bengal Pro T20 League as a local player.
This Instagram post by UP T20 League clearly shows Sandeep Tomar in action in that tournament in 2023.
This raises the implication that Sandeep, too, has illegally registered as a Bengal player with the Cricket Association of Bengal.
Not only these two players, but reports indicate that multiple athletes are arriving from various states and illegitimately registering as Bengal players with forged documents. Clearly, such actions cannot occur without the support of officials.
C.A.B.'s efforts to stop this
Recently, the Cricket Association of Bengal announced that from the next season, all players will be required to submit bank documents that are more than three years old, along with their parents' documents, before registering. However, the pressing question remains: If they can not even stop a daylight robbery, will they be able to stop outstation players' entry? Only time will tell.
As a result, many deserving players from Bengal, who have been topping charts in runs, wickets, and trophy wins, have been deprived of the opportunities they rightfully deserve.
Numerous players expressed feelings of frustration, sadness, and hopelessness after the events that unfolded during the draft for the Men's Bengal Pro T20 League.
Bengal Pro T20 League 2025: 8 franchises choose squads among 802 players; here are the full squads
The Bengal Pro T20 League Season 2 kicked off its preparations with a grand men’s draft ceremony on Monday, where a staggering 802 cricketers were selected by eight franchises at a city hotel on Monday.
The Bengal Pro T20 League Season 2 kicked off its preparations with a grand men’s draft ceremony on Monday, where a staggering 802 cricketers were selected by eight franchises at a city hotel on Monday.
8 franchises, led by their retained players and coaches along with their owners, selected their squads for the upcoming season.
CAB Office bearers led by President Snehasish Ganguly, Vice President Amalendu Biswas, Secretary Naresh Ojha, Treasurer Prabir Chakrabarty, Joint Secretary Debabrata Das along with India cricket legend Sourav Ganguly, women’s cricket icon Jhulan Goswami were present for the draft.
"I hope you will all witness an exciting draft process in the next few hours. I am sure we will have an even more successful Bengal Pro T20 League season this time," Sourav Ganguly said during the event.
A+ category players will get INR 4,75,000, A grade players will get INR 3,75,000, while B and C category players will receive INR 1,50,000. D category players will get INR 1,50,000.
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