Bengal cricket is once again flirting with its favorite off-field habit, shaking up the captaincy just when the team is still figuring itself out. This time, the debate surrounds a 23-year-old left-hander who has been gunning his way into Bengal folklore: Abishek Porel. Fresh from Delhi Capitals’ renewed faith for IPL 2026 and currently serving India A duties in Doha, Porel’s rise has moved from promising to inevitable with surprising speed.

 

But inevitability isn’t always the best selection logic.

 

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) is seriously considering handing him the T20 captaincy for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025-26, starting November 26. And while that sounds like a reward for his dazzling strike rates and leadership in the Bengal Pro T20 League, his recent numbers in the Ranji Trophy tell a quieter, more troubling story only 84 runs at 21.00 in three matches. Bengal tried him as stand-in captain once this season; they returned from Tripura with a lonely point to show for it.

 

So, the big question is: does Bengal need fresh leadership, or are they manufacturing another identity crisis?

 

Porel’s Potential vs His Present Form

 

Porel’s rise isn’t happening in a vacuum. The southpaw’s last two SMAT seasons paint him as Bengal’s most explosive T20 batter, 335 runs at 158.76 the previous year, and 239 the season before. Compare that to Sudip Gharami struggling at around 120 strike rates, and the analytical case for Porel looks stronger than the emotional one.

 

But leadership is bigger than hitting sixes. His current Ranji form of 84 runs in three games suggests someone still wrestling with red-ball rhythm. Giving the T20 captaincy to a batter searching for touch can either spark brilliance or add unnecessary weight. That’s a fine line, and Bengal has crossed it before.

 

Gharami’s Leadership: Underachieving or Undervalued?

 

Sudip Kumar Gharami took over white-ball captaincy in 2023 after a giant Ranji season, 803 runs at 50.18. He wasn’t given the job by accident. And yet, the knockout barrier has turned into his personal curse. No quarterfinal escape in either Mushtaq Ali or Vijay Hazare.

 

Strangely, the perception battle has become his biggest enemy. Seven wins in nine games last SMAT is a solid captaincy return. But a timid strike rate of 118.54 and fluctuating batting form mean he no longer feels like the T20 face of Bengal. Captaincy didn’t harm him, but it didn’t elevate him either.

 

Bengal’s Habit of Tinkering Comes Back Again

 

Bengal’s revolving door of captains has long been its Achilles heel. Instead of continuity, they operate like a team chasing trends. Giving Porel the armband now would be less about correcting a leadership gap and more about feeding the urge to hit reset whenever things look uncertain.

 

And this comes at a time when the squad is already juggling schedules, players shifting from Ranji duties to local JC Mukherjee T20 matches, some even playing on the morning of travel. The environment is chaotic enough; adding a captaincy shift only thickens the fog.

 

Shami and Easwaran’s Return: The Experience Injection

 

Just when the leadership conversation seemed volatile, two quiet announcements stabilised things: Mohammad Shami and Abhimanyu Easwaran are back for SMAT 2025-26. And this isn’t nostalgia, it’s impact.

 

Shami enters with 20 wickets in four recent matches and has delivered 11 wickets at 7.85 economy last year post-Achilles surgery. Easwaran brings a 2023 SMAT season of 235 runs at 155 strike rates. These two alone could lift team confidence far more than a new captain.

 

Key Takeaway

 

Bengal doesn’t need a captaincy revolution; it needs selection stability.

 

FAQs

 

1. What makes Abishek Porel a captaincy contender?

 

His superior SMAT numbers and recent leadership in Bengal’s Pro T20 League have pushed him into contention.

 

2. Why is Sudip Gharami at risk of losing the T20 captaincy?

 

Despite good team results, his strike rate and personal form have dipped, weakening his case.

 

3. How will Shami and Easwaran impact SMAT 2025-26?

 

Their experience and recent form give Bengal a major competitive boost, regardless of who captains.

 

Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.

 

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