Bengal have set a powerful pace attack for their 2025-26 Ranji Trophy opener, with Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, and Mukesh Kumar making up a strong bowling attack. The team will be captained by opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, who takes over the captaincy from Anustup Majumdar, in a last-minute decision allegedly made after conversations with Sourav Ganguly, the newly elected president of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).
This season is an important time for Mohammed Shami, who is looking for a return to form and fitness after being absent from international cricket for a long stretch. Shami last played for India in March’s Champions Trophy and has only played one first-class match since; that was for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy. In that match, he bowled 34 overs and took one wicket, but bowled very little on the last day.
With Shami joining Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, and Ishan Porel to give Bengal strong depth in pace, the trio in particular of Akash Deep and Mukesh will be itching to put in a strong performance with the India Test Series against South Africa in November on the horizon.
Akash Deep returns after missing the Duleep Trophy with a back injury, while he put in a great performance in England earlier this year with a match haul of ten wickets in Birmingham. Mukesh did not perform pup to expectations with India A in England, and then even had a hamstring injury during the Duleep Trophy. However, both fast bowlers have passed the BCCI’s fitness test at the Centre of Excellence.
Bengal start their Ranji Trophy campaign on October 15 against Uttarakhand at Eden Gardens in Group C with Assam, Services, Tripura, Railways, Haryana, and Gujarat. Bengal have a good mix of old and young players and will be hoping for a great start to their domestic season.
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