article by Suvankar Roy
For Bengal, the 2025-26 domestic season has boiled down to one singular obsession: lifting the Ranji Trophy. It has been nearly 35 years since Bengal last tasted success in India’s premier red-ball tournament. Despite coming agonizingly close on several occasions, the trophy remains elusive. With disappointing exits in the group stages of the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali and Vijay Hazare Trophies, the Ranji Trophy is now the team’s final frontier for redemption.
Current Standing: Elite Group C
Bengal currently finds itself at the summit of Elite Group C. After five matches, they remain unbeaten with three wins and two draws, amassing 23 points. While their position is strong, there is a sense of “what could have been,” as they dropped points in draws against perceived underdogs Assam and Tripura.
The real test begins on January 22nd, when Bengal faces their toughest challenge yet—a high-stakes clash against second-placed Services, who are breathing down their necks with 19 points.
Squad Updates: New Faces and Key Absences
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has announced a powerhouse squad for the upcoming encounter at the BCA Ground in Kalyani. However, the team has dealt a major blow as superstar wicketkeeper-batsman Abishek Porel remains sidelined due to injury.
In his absence, the selectors have rewarded fresh talent:
- Sumit Nag: Earns his call-up following a stellar run in the Under-23 circuit.
- Subham Chatterjee: Enters the squad in red-hot form, having recently smashed a double century and a century in just three matches in First Division cricket.
- Sumit Mohanta & Soummyadip Mandal: Also join the ranks to bolster the squad’s depth.
The Bengal Squad vs. Services
- Abhimanyu Easwaran (C)
- Sudip Chatterjee
- Sudip Kumar Gharami
- Anustup Majumdar
- Sumanta Gupta
- Subham Chatterjee
- Chandrahas Dash
- Shakir Habib Gandhi (WK)
- Sumit Nag (WK)
- Shahbaz Ahmed
- Rahul Prasad
- Md. Shami
- Akash Deep
- Mukesh Kumar
- Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal
- Vikas Singh
- Subham Sarkar
- Soummyadip Mandal
- Sumit Mohanta
The Verdict: Can They Handle the Pressure?
With the ghost of two early tournament exits looming over them, the pressure is palpable. However, playing on home turf with a pace attack featuring the likes of Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, and Mukesh Kumar, Bengal holds a distinct advantage.
Will they maintain their dominance and solidify their path to the knockouts, or will the weight of recent failures prove too much? Only time will tell if this is finally the year the 35-year drought ends.