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Abishek Porel named in Bengal squad for Ranji Trophy opener against Delhi

The Cricket Association of Bengal has finalized a 17-man squad for their Ranji Trophy opener against Delhi, with wicketkeeper-batter Abishek Porel making a high-profile return to competitive cricket. Porel, who has not played since the 2026 IPL season, was included despite his ongoing legal issues, which include allegations of rape and sexual offences leading to his arrest by Kolkata police in August.

The selection aligns with Bengal’s previous stance, where the association stated that his personal matters would not affect his eligibility unless legally required. Bengal, led by captain Abhimanyu Easwaran and vice-captain Sudip Kumar Gharami, boasts a strong pace attack featuring India internationals Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, and Akash Deep, though all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed is sidelined due to injury.

The squad retains much of its core from last season, when Bengal topped their group and reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual champions Jammu and Kashmir. The match will be played in Kalyani, with the team also including wicketkeeper Shakir Habib Gandhi and seven standbys for depth.

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