Bengal: Banking on a good start

The two-time champion, which has also made 13 appearances in the final, is keen to do better and achieve its long-time target of winning back the most coveted title in Indian domestic circuit.

Manoj Tiwary, the Bengal captain, will be hoping for the talented youngsters in his team to fire.

Bengal was a little unlucky last season, as it ended with 21 points in a tough Group A and missed making the cut by five points. Its fifth round match against Gujarat at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi was abandoned due to smog and the team, which lost some crucial points, could do little about it despite having a good start to the season.

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The two-time champion, which has also made 13 appearances in the final, is keen to do better and achieve its long-time target of winning back the most coveted title in Indian domestic circuit.

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The team has some promising players such as Sudip Chatterjee, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Pankaj Shaw and Kanishk Seth, apart from the experienced lot including captain Manoj Tiwary, Wriddhiman Saha and seamers Mohammad Shami and Ashok Dinda.

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Under the guidance of former India player and coach Sairaj Bahutule, the Bengal team is learning the tricks of transforming itself into a champion side.

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Former India captain and the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president, Sourav Ganguly, is leaving no stone unturned in making the team capable of achieving Bengal’s long cherished dream of winning the Ranji title again.

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Armed with proper planning and pre-season preparations in Karnataka and Gujarat, Bengal, which is starting its Ranji campaign this season against Services at the Palam ground in Delhi on October 6, is hopeful of realising its potential.

Manoj Tiwary (captain): “I believe that our talented young players will deliver the goods for the side. If we get a good start like last year, then it will be helpful in the later stages of the tournament.”

Last season: Failed to qualify for the knock-out.

Titles: 2.