Bengal’s Rising Star Abishek Porel Leads the Charge Against Tripura in Ranji Trophy’s Third Round

If history serves as an indicator, the lecture halls at Maharaja Bir Bikram University might appear somewhat empty when Tripura faces off against a strong Bengal team in the third-round, Elite Group-C Ranji Trophy match starting on Saturday.

The stadium, which is just a short distance from the campus, rarely hosts games, making any cricket event a festive occasion. In early 2024, the purpose of the barbed wires was undermined as numerous students managed to sneak in to catch a glimpse of local favorite and current captain Manisankar Murasingh, alongside Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar.

This season, Vijay is representing Tripura, donning their blue-and-white crest, likely intensifying the support from spectators.

However, the loudest applause will be for the opposition’s Mohammed Shami, who has been making a case for his Test comeback after a long injury layoff last November. Currently in stellar form, having taken 15 wickets in two Ranji Trophy matches, his selection for the home series against South Africa starting November 14 seems increasingly probable.

Despite this, the pitch in this region might not favor Shami as the curators are expected to prepare a flat surface. “The team that dominates the first two days will likely win the game,” notes Murasingh.

The Bengal team will be missing regular captain Abhimanyu Easwaran and pacer Akash Deep, who are selected for the second unofficial Test against South Africa A. This will see Abishek Porel leading the senior side for the first time.

“Being a State captain is a source of pride, and Abishek fully deserves it. However, it’s essential to better schedule these A tours and the Emerging Cup (ACC Rising Stars, starting November 14). These interruptions disrupt our momentum. Easwaran shouldn’t be playing for the A-side anymore; he needs to make it to the Test team,” says Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla to Sportstar.

Meanwhile, Tripura has suffered consecutive losses to Haryana and Services, despite Swapnil Singh’s impressive seven-wicket haul and five-wicket effort. The team hopes that its seasoned guest players, Hanuma Vihari and Vijay, will start performing before it’s too late.

Published on Oct 31, 2025