Kolkata : Bengal all-rounder and Shrachi Rarh Tigers captain Shahbaz Ahmed and his teammate Sumanta Gupta have drawn comparisons between Bengal T20 League, IPL and domestic Cricket in Bengal.
Bengal T20 League, which is 3 seasons old is already being compared to that of great league like IPL and Bengal’s domestic tournaments like JC Mukherjee Trophy, CAB first divisions.
Comparing with IPL where 200+ totals and chases are common in contrast to Bengal T20 League, Shahbaz Ahmed, who plays for Lucknow Super Giants said, “Both Bengal T20 and IPL provide different platforms, conditions and players. Bengal T20 League is improving season by season. The tournament is getting better with high scoring encounters, which ever side is Batting efficiently”.
” IPL is our prime tournament, all players follow it and want to play. This year, the players in Bengal T20 have improved a lot due to practice “, Shahbaz told regarding more runs in Bengal T20 season 3 compared to last year.
Sumanta Gupta stated Bengal T20 as big platform for youngsters and revealed that it provides “same environment” as IPL.
“Bengal T20 League is big platform for youngsters, initiated by CAB. Despite rainy season, all matches are getting completed. Like IPL, we’re getting same environment, and this tournament is beneficial for white ball tournament preparations like Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy “, Sumanta said.
Sumanta, who plays for Barisha Club in Bengal domestic Cricket , kept Bengal T20 League superior to Domestic circuit and highlighted getting Eden Gardens for the tournament with players playing live matches under lights.
” In Bengal T20, we’re getting Eden Gardens, rest of the domestic tournaments, we don’t. It’s a great achievement for players. Eden is very good Ground and wicket, catches can be availed well. It’s different from that of JC Mukherjee Trophy because we play under lights here and live. Those who haven’t played live games, for them it’s a big platform. The wickets is getting better day by day”.
This year Bengal T20 League has drawn more crowds than last 2 seasons, both in evening and afternoon games. Focusing on that Sumanta said, “This year has drawn more crowds than last 2 seasons, apart from evening, afternoon games also drawn crowds. Ads were also good”.
SG Ball was a major point of discussion as it replaced the Kookaburra Ball ahead of Bengal T20 League 2026. However, Sumanta stated that SG Ball is running almost like the Kookaburra.
” SG Ball is not a problem like we thought earlier, it’s running like Kookaburra, very good for Batters and Bowlers “.
Contrary to Bengal greats like Abhimanyu Easwaran and Writtick Chatterjee, Sumanta backed the Impact Player Rule, saying Shrachi Rarh Tigers are getting benefit from it.
” Don’t know about others but Shrachi Rarh Tigers are getting benefit from Impact Player Rule. We’re using it very well, helping us a lot, so for us it is good “.
Shrachi Rarh Tigers captained by Shahbaz Ahmed have played 3 games. Despite losing the first one by 24 runs, they managed to win the next 2 by big margins.
