Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Akash Deep named in Bengal squad despite India duties, no Mohammed Shami

Ranji Trophy 2024-25: Akash Deep named in Bengal squad despite India duties, no Mohammed Shami. (Source – Twitter/X)

Bengal, one of the strongest teams in the Ranji Trophy history, has named their 19-member squad for the upcoming 2024-25 edition of the tournament. 40-year-old Anustup Majumdar will be captaining the side once again. The squad announced will be valid for the first two rounds of competition, and some changes are expected ahead of the third round.

The biggest news was the exclusion of star India pacer Mohammed Shami, who has been away from any form of cricket since the ODI World Cup final on November 19, 2023. The ace bowler was expected to make the cut, given the upcoming tour to Australia for the Indian team, however, Shami hasn’t been included in the squad for the first two rounds, as announced by the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). However, Shami’s brother Mohammed Kaif, is a part of the roster.

Abhimanyu Easwaran, who has had a purple patch with peak success in domestic tournaments like the Duleep Trophy and the recently concluded Irani Cup, where he scored 191, will be the key to Bengal’s top-order in this edition of the tourney.

Meanwhile, seamer Akash Deep, who has been with the Indian Test team of late, has been added, which hints at his possible exclusion from the upcoming series against New Zealand, or at least till the start of the second Test in Pune, by which the round two will conclude.

Also Check: IND vs NZ Schedule 2024

Wriddhiman Saha returns

Another India pacer Mukesh Kumar, who has represented Bengal in domestic cricket, is missing from the first couple of rounds. However, his namesake, a leg-spinner from Himachal Pradesh, who joined Bengal ahead of the 2024-25 edition, has been added.

Wriddhiman Saha, after sorting out his differences with the CAB, has marked his return with Bengal from Tripura in the last couple of seasons. Saha had previously stated his desire to call curtains on his domestic career with Bengal, and thus, this might just be the year, the wicketkeeper-batter hangs his boots. Abishek Porel is the other keeper-batter in Bengal’s squad.

Bengal’s recent past and near future

Speaking of Bengal’s recent few years in the premier red-ball domestic tournament, the team reached the finale in the 2022-23 season, but lost to Saurashtra in the summit clash, thereby ending as runners-up. The team has had a few excellent performances, but the side awaits tasting the ultimate success of lifting the trophy.

Now coming to their upcoming fixtures, Bengal will open their campaign against Uttar Pradesh at Lucknow’s Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium from October 11, before inviting neighbors Bihar for the round two at their iconic home ground, the Eden Gardens in the city of joy, Kolkata.

Also Read: Bihar announce Ranji Trophy squad after legal drama

Bengal squad for Ranji Trophy 2024-25

Abishek Porel (wk), Sudip Chatterjee, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Writtick Chatterjee, Shahbaz Ahmed, Akash Deep, Anustup Majumdar (c), Aamir Gani, Sudip Kumar Gharami, Avilin Ghosh, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Mohammed Kaif, Mukesh Kumar, Pradipta Pramanik, Rishav Vivek, Rohit Kumar, Shuvam Dey, and Yudhajit Guha.

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