Abhimanyu to lead; Shami and Akash Deep boost for Bengal in Ranji Trophy

Kolkata, Oct 8 (PTI) Consistent top-order batter Abhimanyu Easwaran will lead a strong Bengal side in the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season beginning on October 15, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) announced on Wednesday.

Talented wicketkeeper-batter Abishek Porel has been named vice-captain, while the pace department will receive a major boost with the inclusion of India fast bowling duo of Mohammed Shami and Akash Deep.

Veterans Anustup Majumdar and Sudip Chatterjee, along with promising youngster Sudip Kumar Gharami, will form the backbone of the batting unit.

The squad also features emerging names such as Rahul Prasad, Saurabh Kumar Singh and Vishal Bhati.

Laxmi Ratan Shukla continues to be the head coach, with Arup Bhattacharjee and Shib Shankar Paul assisting him.

Charanjit Singh Matharu will serve as the fielding coach.

Bengal, placed in Elite Group C alongside Gujarat, Haryana, Services, Railways, Tripura, Uttarakhand and Assam, will open their campaign against Uttarakhand at Eden Gardens from October 15, followed by another home fixture against Gujarat from October 25.

The upcoming Ranji Trophy will feature 38 teams -- 32 in the Elite division (four groups) and six in the Plate division.

The top two teams from each Elite group will qualify for the quarterfinals, while four Plate teams will advance to their respective knockouts.

Bengal Squad: Abhimanyu Easwaran (captain), Abishek Porel (vice-captain/wk), Sudip Kumar Gharami, Anustup Majumdar, Sudip Chatterjee, Sumanta Gupta, Saurabh Kumar Singh, Vishal Bhati, Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Shakir Habib Gandhi (wk), Ishan Porel, Kazi Junaid Saifi, Rahul Prasad, Sumit Mohanta and Vikash Singh. PTI TAP SSC SSC