Bengal look to end Ranji Trophy jinx

In the post Sourav Ganguly-era, Bengal cricket has made progress, but the premier domestic title has remained elusive to them.

Bengal won the last Ranji Trophy title in the 1989-90 season, which also marked former India captain Ganguly's debut.

Under W V Raman, who joined the side in 2010-11, the state has won the domestic Twenty20 (Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy) and one-dayers (Vijay Hazare Trophy) last season, but their ultimate goal certainly would be to break the Ranji Trophy jinx.

The side boasts of some big names in skipper Manoj Tiwary, Wriddhiman Saha, Ashok Dinda, Anustup Majumdar and Mohammad Shami, all of whom are in the reckoning at national level, and the run to the title doesn't seem to be an improbable preposition for them.

"I would be happy if Bengal raise their game. I want them to be united, play together, be positive and show aggression without any baggage," was coach Raman's mantra for his Bengal wards.

At Ranji level Bengal has not been able to click as a team and in the absence of Ganguly, who decided to quit from all forms of the game before the declaration of the squad, it remains to be seen how they conduct themselves.

"We are confident of our youngsters. We strongly hope that there would not be a situation for us to ask for Ganguly's help," Raman said. MORE