The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) recently revealed plans to organize a franchise-based Twenty20 (T20) competition, the Bengal Pro T20 League, in early June ’24. Ahead of the tournament, the CAB has announced a marquee player for each of the eight women’s teams, which are named after cities or districts of Bengal.
Here are the 8 teams along with their women’s marquee players:
Kolkata Royal Tigers – Mita Paul
The 29-year-old all-rounder stands tall among the elites of state cricket, leaving her mark with notable appearances for the Baranagar Sporting Club, Bengal women’s team, and East Zone. The former skipper bats right-handed and bowls right-arm off-spin. In the 2023-24 domestic season, Mita claimed 14 wickets from 13 T20 matches while also contributing with the bat, accumulating 157 runs from 11 innings. With a wealth of experience, she remains a dependable force capable of delivering all-round performances.
Harbour Diamonds – Sukanya Parida
The 30-year-old all-rounder first featured for Bengal from 2012 to 2017 in domestic cricket, then switched to the Railways cricket team but returned to the Bengal setup in 2021. Sukanya’s early promise earned her a spot in the senior national team, making her ODI debut against West Indies in 2016 but she hasn’t yet donned the India Blue. In the ’23-24 domestic season, Sukanya faced challenges and will be backed to rediscover her form and make her mark once again.
Rashmi Medinipur Wizards – Richa Ghosh
At just 20 years old, the keeper-batter has already left her mark across tournaments, representing Hobart Hurricanes in Australia’s T20 league, London Spirit in England’s 100-ball competition, and both Trailblazers and Royal Challengers Bangalore in India’s premier T20 tournament. Not to mention her contributions to her state team across various formats and age categories. In T20 Internationals (T20Is), striking at 134.27, Richa has amassed 760 runs at an average of 26.20 across 41 innings. With a knack for clearing the fence, Richa emerges as a standout performer, particularly in the shortest format, and can be relied upon to lead the charge from the front.
Servotec Siliguri Strikers – Priyanka Bala
The 28-year-old keeper-batter is a reputed name domestically, having previously showcased her talents with Railways and now donning the Bengal colors. Notably, Mumbai Indians secured her services for INR 20 Lakhs during the inaugural Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction, thrusting her into the limelight. In her lone appearance, she scored an unbeaten 19*(18), hinting at her potential impact. Throughout the ’23-24 domestic season, she added 168 runs from 8 T20 matches to her tally. Fresh off her WPL campaign, it is hoped that Priyanka will bring forth her newfound experiences to the field, elevating her game to new heights.
Rarh Tigers – Titas Sadhu
The 19-year-old up-and-coming pacer has been amongst the top performers for Bengal in domestic cricket. Her talents were further showcased on the international stage, where she played a pivotal role in India’s triumphant campaign at the inaugural Under-19 World Cup in 2023. This success saw her fast-tracked into the senior national setup and has also featured for the Delhi Capitals in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Titas has been a consistent performer for Bengal across all formats, even shining in the red-ball games played in April ’24. In international cricket, she has picked up 9 wickets from as many T20Is. Set to spearhead the bowling attack, all eyes will be on her to deliver yet another stellar performance in the forthcoming tournament.
Adamas Howrah Warriors – Dhara Gujjar
The 21-year-old batter shows promise, having gained exposure to the Women’s Premier League (WPL) with the Mumbai Indians. While success may have eluded her there, she remains a consistent performer for Bengal in domestic cricket. Notably, she recently impressed with scores of 140 and 58 in red-ball games in April ’24, and in T20s, she has amassed 279 runs from 15 innings, further solidifying her batting credentials. She also is handy with her medium pace and will be vital for her team’s success in the competition.
Malda Sobisco Smashers – Hrishita Basu
The 20-year-old keeper-batter was part of the title-winning Under-19 team that clinched the World Cup last year. Batting in the middle-order, Hrishita didn’t have many opportunities with the bat but managed to chip in a few runs whenever she took guard. Leading up to the World Cup, Hrishita caught the selectors’ attention with her impressive glove work and runs in limited opportunities across domestic U19 competitions. It’ll be seen how she fares in this forthcoming event.
Murshidabad Kings – Deepti Sharma
The 26-year-old established all-rounder has represented state teams of Uttar Pradesh and Bengal in India’s domestic circuit and played for Velocity, Trailblazers, and UP Warriorz in premier T20 competitions in India. Overseas, she has featured for Western Storm in England, Birmingham Phoenix and London Spirit in The Hundred, and Sydney Thunder in Australia’s top T20 league. In T20Is, she has accumulated 1020 runs from 75 innings and taken 118 wickets from 106 outings, with bests being 64 and 4/10. Lately, Deepti has been in spectacular form, and expectations are high for her to dominate in the upcoming competition.
CAB President Snehasish Ganguly, India legends, and former captains Jhulan Goswami and Sourav Ganguly unveiled the champions’ trophy of the Bengal Pro T20 League in a glamorous ceremony for the tournament, which kicks off in June.
At the ceremony, Jhulan stated, “To be able to witness the Bengal Pro T20 League launch is truly amazing. I would like to thank the CAB for making this possible. I wish all the players who will be participating to give their best and win it for their team. This league will surely help being forward more talent from Bengal who will represent IPL and Women’s Premier League in the coming years.”