Bengal cricket team

In India, the Bengal cricket team represents the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) in domestic competition. Based at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata, they have played first-class cricket since 1935. Bengal have won the Ranji Trophy twice and been runners-up 13 times. They also play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, both of which they have won once. Several international cricketers have played for the team including Dilip Doshi, Sourav Ganguly, Mohammed Shami, Pankaj Roy, and Wriddhiman Saha.

History

A team representing Bengal was formed in December 1889 for a match against an English touring team at Eden Gardens. At that time, no native Bengalis were involved and the team, captained by British Army officer Cleveland Greenway, was composed of European colonials who were mostly British expatriates. Bengal lost the match, played over the New Year period, by an innings and 17 runs. In January 1923, a Bengal team took part in the Nagpur Provincial Tournament and, having defeated a Central Provinces XI in their semi-final, lost the final against Bombay. The Bengal team in this competition included a couple of native players but, as before, it was principally a colonial enterprise.

In 1934, the Board of Control for Cricket in India organised the Ranji Trophy but Bengal did not take part in 1934–35. Bengal achieved first-class status in December 1935 when they played the Australian tourists and were defeated by 9 wickets. In January 1936, Bengal joined the Ranji Trophy, playing in the East Zone, and reached the semi-final where they lost to Madras. In 1936–37, Bengal were runners-up to Nawanagar. Two years later, in 1938–39, Bengal won the Ranji for the first time when they defeated Southern Punjab in the final. Throughout this period, Bengal was essentially a West Bengal team. They were based in Calcutta and played all their matches at Eden Gardens.

The earliest match of note in Dhaka was in February 1941 when a Bengal Governor's XI played the Bengal Gymkhana at the Bangabandhu National Stadium, then called the Dacca Stadium. Following Partition of India in 1947, Bengal was split into West (India) and East (then Pakistan, now Bangladesh). 

To 2023, Bengal have been Ranji Trophy runners-up 13 times and only Bombay/Mumbai have appeared in more finals. Bengal won the Ranji again in 1989–90 when they defeated Delhi in the final.

Having won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2011, Bengal won the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2012. Playing under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly, they defeated Mumbai in the final at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi on 12 March 2012.

Home grounds
 Eden Gardens, Kolkata – the second largest stadium in India and also the home ground of Kolkata Knight Riders
 Jadavpur University Campus Ground, Jadavpur – leased out to the Cricket Association of Bengal, it hosts inter-state and intra-state matches
 Bengal Cricket Academy, Kalyani
 Deshbandu Park, North Kolkata – hosted matches of Vinoo Mankad Trophy, Cooch Behar Trophy, Vijay Merchant Trophy and Polly Umrigar Trophy

Honours
 Ranji Trophy
 Winners (2): 1938–39, 1989–90
 Runners-up (13): 1936–37, 1943–44, 1952–53, 1955–56, 1958–59, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1988–89, 1993–94, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2019–20, 2022–23

 Vijay Hazare Trophy
 Winners (1): 2011-12
 Runners-up (4): 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2016–17

 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
 Winners (1): 2010-11
 Runners-up (0):

Players

Notation key
This provides key to abbreviated terms used below in table listings.

Current squad
Updated as of 31 October 2023. Players with international caps are listed in bold.

Notable former players

The following Bengal cricketers hold team records or have made international appearances in Test, ODI or T20I matches.

References

External links
 Ranji Trophy winners
 Bengal cricket team; records 
 Saurav Ganguly made 135 runs vs Haryana in Ranji Trophy

Indian first-class cricket teams
Cricket in West Bengal
1889 establishments in India
Cricket clubs established in 1889