Satyaki Dutta has been one of the most underrated cricketers in Bengal over the past few seasons. The young batting all-rounder progressed through the ranks of Kolkata club cricket and has been playing for East Bengal since last season.

Despite scoring two centuries in two semi-finals last season, he could not lead East Bengal to victory. This season, having made it to the semi-finals again, he is determined to bring the trophy to East Bengal fans.

Ahead of the highly anticipated Kolkata Derby against arch-rival Mohun Bagan Athletic Club, Satyaki shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point.

"Always tried to focus on my strengths"

Despite being one of the most consistent batters in Bengal, along with his ability to bowl wholeheartedly for his team, Satyaki has yet to break through to the senior Bengal team. Not only that, despite winning the "East Bengal's Cricketer of the Year Award", Satyaki was told he was not good enough by many. 

But just like many champion athletes, this has only made him stronger and better. Besides working on his strength, Satyaki made sure he found the small loopholes in his game and worked on them under East Bengal coach Abdul Monayem.

"I have always tried to focus on my strengths. I know what my capabilities are. And, when you're playing for a public club like East Bengal, you have to keep on improving," Satyaki told Sportz Point.

Read Also | Bengal Cricket: East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Kalighat and Bhowanipur qualify for the Championship semis

The first-class dream

Last season, Satyaki came very close to making the Bengal team, but it didn't happen for him. He understands that until his dream of wearing the Bengal cap is fulfilled, he must continue to find ways to improve each day.

"Playing first-class cricket is my dream. Everyone in Bengal starts playing with that dream only. Obviously, even if you do not want it, it runs at the back of your mind. But, I know, if I can help big teams like East Bengal win trophies, I will be getting closer to that dream," Satyaki added. 

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"Trying to bring out more intent in my game"

In the 2023-24 season, Satyaki was East Bengal's highest run-getter, but despite that, there were questions about his intent and strike rate. Satyaki worked on that during the entire off-season so that he could minimise any weakness in his batting. His 50 from 39 balls against Shambazar Club in the C.A.B. First Division Championship quarter-finals is a testament to that. 

"After last season, there were a few questions asked about my strike rate. This season, I have worked hard on that and am trying to bring out more intent in my game. I feel this can take my game to another level if I can keep up the intent I have shown," Satyaki expressed.

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Competition with other all-rounders

Since Laxmi Ratan Shukla's retirement, Bengal have tried to find the next pace bowling all-rounder for years, but none has been able to cement his place with great performances. Satayki knows there is a tough battle between a few of the players for just one or two places in the team. 

Interestingly, this competition extends to the East Bengal team as well. Ayan Bhattacharjee, one of the finest all-rounders, is also vying for a spot on the Bengal team and is Satyaki's teammate at East Bengal.

Competition? For Satyaki, it is all about doing well for the team.

"This is quite public now. Four or five players are fighting for that place in the Bengal team. There is nothing to hide that Ayan and I are also fighting for that place. But for both of us, it is all about doing well for East Bengal. Rest is in the hands of selectors and God," Satyaki stated.

"Moreover, you have to remember that I play as a batting all-rounder while others play as a bowling all-rounder," he added.

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"This game can make us heroes to the fans"

Satyaki does not want to focus on all of these equations of selections, next season, the Bengal Pro T20 League. His main focus is now the big semifinal against Mohun Bagan. Satyaki knows the value of a Kolkata derby, and his heartbreak from last season is only making him prepare better for the clash. 

"Last season, we lost two semi-finals. I scored two centuries, but in a team game, winning the trophies is the biggest goal. This season, I want to play that final, and for that, I am willing to do anything," Satyaki described. 

"I know it won't be easy against a team like Mohun Bagan. But we have a team that can take on any team. We all know the value of a Kolkata derby. This match can make anyone a hero. Let's hope we can bring joy to East Bengal fans this time," the all-rounder manifested. 

He has played for East Bengal and won trophies with them. But, like many big stars of Kolkata Maidans, Ranjot Singh Khaira will now be taking on his old team in a big semi-final for Mohun Bagan in a special Kolkata derby coming this week. 

The 26-year-old top-order batter has regained his confidence after scoring an important 124 for Mohun Bagan A.C. in the C.A.B. First Division Championship Quarter-final against Mohammedan Sporting Club to reach the semis.

But now, he will take on their arch-rival of the Kolkata maidans and his former team East Bengal in a mouthwatering semi-final clash at Videocon Ground, starting from 24th April. Before the mega semi-final, Ranjot shared his thoughts in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point.

Read Also | Bengal Cricket: East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Kalighat and Bhowanipur qualify for the Championship semis

"I have regained my confidence"

From his U-19 days, Ranjot has been renowned as a free-flowing batter who just loves to dominate the opponent whenever there is an opportunity. This mentality quickly earned his LIST-A debut in 2021. But, since then, he has been in and out of the team and only played 13 T20s, 3 LIST-A and 2 First-class games for Bengal.

But after scoring in an important game, Ranjot feels this score has done a lot for his confidence, and he has regained his self-belief. 

"Confidence plays a key role in every player's career. But self-confidence comes from doing well in games. Only game time can help us regain that self-belief we lack. So, a big score for a club like Mohun Bagan and in a knockout match has certainly helped me regain my confidence," Ranjot told Sportz Point.

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Talking about his limited opportunities for Bengal in the last four years, Ranjot said, "You cannot judge someone with one or two games. You have to see if he/she has been given a chance in the long run or not. Then you can evaluate."

"Surely, I could have done better in the chances I got. But I feel I had a good debut in the Ranji Trophy, but again, I got injured in the next match," Ranjot added. 

"I want to make a name for myself"

Since Ranjot had to sit out in many games due to team combination, the top-order batter has now started bowling as well, which was once his biggest strength. "I have started bowling again. I am feeling good with my leg spin. It feels great. I feel I am ready to contribute to my team's success with bat, ball and fielding," Ranjot expressed. 

"I want to make a difference when I play. I know the value of a name. That’s what I want for myself; to make a name for myself in this beautiful game," Ranjot shared. 

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"They want nothing but the trophy"

But how do you make a name for yourself? Ranjot knows the formula. Since his childhood, he has been part of big teams in Kolkata and has already played for three of the biggest cricket clubs of the Kolkata maidan. He knows, scoring in big games for big clubs and helping them win trophies is something that gets valued more than anything in Bengal cricket. 

"If you are playing for any of the big four clubs in Kolkata, the competition is already tough. There is pressure and expectations to win trophies. That is why it is important to do well in these kinds of knockout matches."

"I have heard from childhood that you have to score in these kinds of big games to get recognised in Kolkata Club cricket or Bengal cricket overall. The fans and the club want nothing but the trophy. This is what makes it more special."

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"When the opposition is down, choke them to defeat"

However, we all know that having the formula and executing it in the field are two different things altogether. So, how does Ranjot Sing Khaira execute things?

"It has always been a simple formula for me. When the opposition is down, choke them to defeat. Do not give them any chance to rise and make a comeback," Ranjot stated. 

"Like, if you take the quarter-final game. Though we scored 380, we knew it was chaseable. So, in big games when you are playing against good teams, you need to make sure that when you have them under pressure, you pin them down," he added. 

Kerala Blasters FC started their Kalinga Super Cup 2025 on a high note by knocking out defending champions East Bengal by 2-0 in Bhubaneshwar on Sunday. Noah Sadaoui and Jesús Jiménez scored the goals for the Kerala Blasters as they outplayed the Kolkata side. 

With this defeat, East Bengal FC's season ended on a sad note after an overwhelming finish in the Indian Super League 2024-25. 

Kerala Blasters march on! 💥⚽

A dominant 2-0 win over East Bengal seals their spot in the Super 8. Next stop: a high-voltage clash against Mohun Bagan!#KBFC #BlastersOnTheRise #Super8Bound #keralablasters #SuperCup #mohunbagan #EastBengal #Indianfootball #Footballindia pic.twitter.com/ISfwWWWKly

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) April 20, 2025

Jesús Jiménez opened the scoring for Kerala as he found the back of the net from a penalty in the 40th minute of the match. In the second half, Noah Sadaoui extended the lead for the Manjapadas in the 64th minute to hand them an easy win. 

Blasters looked threatening from the word go as Jesus nearly scored from Noah's delivery in the second minute of the game. They kept on applying the pressure, but could not find the end result despite a few chances created by Noah. 

Noah Sadaoui's banger from outside the box in Kerala Blasters vs East Bengal FC match in Kalinga Super Cup 2025. pic.twitter.com/uWjrbpLMDZ

— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) April 20, 2025

But it wasn't until the 40th minute that Jesus Jimenez stepped up to take the penalty after Gill made a foul inside the box. 

In the 64th minute, Noah scored a screamer of a goal to extend the lead, which was eventually good enough for them to qualify for the quarter-finals. 

Kerala Blasters will now face Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the quarter-final on 26th April. For those who do not know, Mohun Bagan SG will play from the quarter-final directly after they received a bye in the round of 16. 

"Today, the team showed me that they still have something inside, and they wanted to compete and do their best. I’m proud of them cuz the work they’ve done is amazing. We’ll have to see about Luna. He felt that it wasn’t good and asked for a change. We’ll see," Balsters' coach David Catala said after the win. 

Kolkata club cricket's big four, East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Kalighat and Bhowanipur Club, qualified for the semi-finals of the C.A.B First Division League Qualifier and Championship Playoffs on Sunday in four grounds across Bengal. 

East Bengal defeated Shambazar Club handsomely by 8 wickets, while their arch-rival Mohun Bagan defeated Mohammedan Sporting Club by 22 runs to reach the final four.

On the other hand, Kalighat managed a narrow one-wicket win over Town Club. But, Bhawanipore made the headlines by chasing down Barisha Sporting's mammoth 430-run target with 21 balls remaining in the match.

East Bengal beat Shambazar by 8 wickets

Kanishk Seth ran through the Shambazar Club in the first inning with his lethal left-arm pace bowling at the Deshbandhu Park Ground in Kolkata. Seth picked up three wickets for 32 and was well supported by Bengal's highest wicket-taker of the last two seasons, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal.

Suraj broke through the top order while Kanishk made sure the middle order did not get any momentum. Suraj picked up three wickets for 42 while captain Writtick Chatterjee also took two important wickets to ensure East Bengal had only 180 to chase in the second inning. 

During the chase, Abhisek Das and Satyaki Dutta gave them a great start, despite an early wicket of Akash Ghatak. Abhisek remained unbeaten on 70 while Satyaki departed after a 50 from 39 balls. Captain Writtick Chatterjee also played a quick-fire knock of 44 from 21 balls as the red and gold won by 8 wickets. 

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Writam Porel's gritty 96 helped Kalighat beat Town Club by 1 wicket

Despite Yuvraj Keswani's stunning 106, Town Club's 280 in the first inning did not prove to be enough as Writam Porel's unbeaten 96 took Kalighat over the line in a nail-biting finish at Aditya School Ground in Barasat.

Town Club in the first inning posted 280, depending on Yuvraj's ton and Avirup Gupta's 53. Arun Chaprana was the pick of the bowlers for Kalighat with 4/42. 

During the chase, Kalighat lost their openers quickly, but captain Anustup Majumdar scored 60 from 88 balls to keep them in the chase. But it was heroics from veteran Writam Porel that saw Kalighat qualify for the final four.

Writam remained unbeaten on 96 while he lost partners from the other end. Though Kalighat were short of the total after the full overs, a penalty of 86 runs helped them win by 1 wicket. 

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Mohun Bagan defeated Mohammedan Sporting by 22 runs

Gitansh Khera and Ranjot Singh Khaira's incredible tons, along with Rohit Kumar's 4 wickets, helped the Green and Maroon brigade beat Mohammedan Sporting by 22 runs to reach the semis. 

Both Gitansh and Ranjot scored 124 in the first innings, which helped Mohun Bagan put 380 in the first innings at the Bengal Cricket Academy Ground in Kalyani. Vaibhav Yadav was the star of the show for Mohammedan with the ball as the left-arm spinner picked up six wickets for 108 for the black and white brigade.

In the second inning, captain Sudip Chatterjee fought a lone battle with a stunning 125 for Mohammedan along with Sambit Roy's 95. But, eventually, they fell short by 22 runs despite earning a penalty of 27 runs. 

Rohit Kumar was influential for Mohun Bagan with a stunning spell of 4/68. 

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Habib Gandhi's heroics take Bhawanipore to the semis

Shakir Habib Gandhi's unbeaten 168 from 170 balls helped Bhawanipore chase a mammoth 430 against Barisha Sporting Club at Videocon Ground in Kolkata. 

Kazi Junaid Saifi's 161 and Sumanta Gupta's 107 helped Bhawanipore put up a huge total of 429 runs in the first inning. Aamir Gani picked up three wickets in the first inning. 

During the chase, Bhawanipore captain Abhimanyu Easwaran departed after scoring 51 off 71, but Jayojit Basu's 81 from 109 balls kept them in the game. 

However, it was all about Shakir Habib Gandhi's stunning 168 from 170 balls, which helped Bhawanipore chase down the total with four wickets in hand and 21 balls remaining in the match. 

East Bengal FC cemented their status as IWL 2024-25 champions with a commanding 3-0 victory over Gokulam Kerala FC at the East Bengal ground on Friday.

Already assured of the title before kickoff, the Red and Golds showcased their supremacy by defeating every team in the league en route to the championship, with all three goals coming in an explosive first half.

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The star of the show was Elshaddai Acheampong, who opened the scoring in the 27th minute. After missing earlier chances, including a header from five yards in the 19th minute, the Ghanaian forward made amends with a clinical finish, chipping the goalkeeper after a deft move past defenders following a pass from Anju Tamang.

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Her poacher’s instinct shone again in the 37th minute, tapping in a cross from Karthika Angamuthu at the back post to double the lead. Minutes before halftime, Soumya Guguloth sealed the rout in the 42nd minute, rounding the keeper to score after a perfectly timed through ball.

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Despite the title already in hand, East Bengal displayed remarkable professionalism, dominating possession and stifling Gokulam from the outset. The second half saw Gokulam mount a brief challenge, testing goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu with a long-range effort, but the champions held firm. This win marked the only team East Bengal had yet to beat this season, completing a flawless campaign.

The victory underscored East Bengal’s dominance throughout the season, blending skill, composure, and relentless attacking play.

For Gokulam, the defeat highlighted their struggle against the league’s top side, as East Bengal celebrated a perfect end to their triumphant IWL 2024-25 journey.