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There comes a moment or year in every cricketer’s journey that makes or breaks them. Some crumble under pressure, and some thrive. Bengal wicket-keeper batter Abishek Porel, despite being rated really high, has not delivered that in red-ball cricket so far. But, from tomorrow onwards, the scene might change. The 23-year-old wicket-keeper batter, who has always done well whenever he has led a team, will become Bengal’s latest captain in first-class cricket.
Match details
Match: Tripura vs Bengal, Ranji Trophy 2025-26, Round 3
Date: 1-4 November 2025
Time: 8.45 am IST
Venue: Mahraja Bir Bikram Cricket Stadium, Agartala
Where to watch the match?
There will be no LIVE telecast or streaming of this match. However, you can follow the match on our LIVE blog, starting from tomorrow.
“Absolutely honoured”
Abishek Porel will lead the Bengal men’s senior team in the absence of Abhimanyu Easwaran, who will be unavailable for two games due to India-A games. Porel was named the vice-captain at the start of the season. Though there were rumours that Anustup Majumdar, who was captain last season, might lead the team for these two games, Bengal management wanted Porel to lead the team.
“Absolutely honoured. A big thank you to the Cricket Association of Bengal, Laxmi (Ratan Shukla) da, and all the seniors for trusting me with the responsibility. It is a big achievement for me,” Porel told Sportz Point in an exclusive interview.
Read Also: Exclusive Tripura vs Bengal: Shami vs Vihari; flatter pitch, and a new captain in focus in Tripura.
“It was my dream to lead Bengal”
During his U-16 and U-19 days, Abishek Porel has led Bengal in the past. Not only that, Bengal U-19 did well under him, and he, himself, scored three centuries in four innings in the Cooch Behar Trophy 2022 as captain.
From leading the U-19 team, and now getting a chance to lead a team that has been led by greats like Pankaj Roy, Sourav Ganguly, and Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Porel wants to create his own pathway as a leader.
“It was my dream to lead Bengal and take the team home with responsibilities on my shoulders,” Porel shared.
But, U-19s and senior cricket are different than anyone can ever imagine. In under-age cricket, you mostly lead players of your age or players younger than you. The senior cricket throws a different challenge at you. You might have to lead players who are nearly twice the age or have played double the number of matches in their careers.
In his debut match as captain, he will lead his elder cousin brother Ishan Porel, along with Anustup Majumdar, someone whom he has idolised since his childhood, and Mohammed Shami, who has over 500 international wickets to his name.
“Although I am younger than Ruku (Anustup Majumdar) da, Shami bhai, and dada (Ishan Porel), I have played many matches with them in the last three years. They have never let me feel like I am younger than them. They all were very frank with me, including Manoj Tiwary, my first captain.”
“I am blessed that I am getting players like them in my first match as captain.”
What did Sourav Ganguly say before his captaincy debut?
Sourav Ganguly, one of the greatest captains from Bengal, had picked Porel for the Delhi Capitals a few seasons back, which changed his career overnight. Since then, Gauguly has been consistently working hard to get the best of the young keeper batter.
The ‘Prince of Calcutta’, who is currently the President of C.A.B., congratulated the youngster and wants Porel not to think too much about the captaincy, and rather keep doing what he has been doing in the last few years.
“He congratulated me. He told me that I will have to take responsibility. It is a big deal and responsibility to lead Bengal. He told me to me myself and think it just as an added stamp beside my name,” Porel expressed.
“I am not taking it as pressure. It is an absolute privilege and I am honoured to be able to lead Bengal. I enjoy captaincy. I led Bengal in the Buchi Babu tournament. I love responsibilities.”
