'Overall, it was a good team effort' - Shahbaz Ahmed shares his take on Bengal's thumping 287-run win against Kerala

Bengal secured a commanding 287-run victory over Kerala in Ranji Trophy Elite Group C at the KCA Cricket Ground in Thiruvananthapuram from October 26 to 29, 2026. The match saw Bengal recover from a precarious position of 108 for five in their first innings to post 350, a total that proved decisive in the four-day contest. Kerala's chase fell short as they managed only 198 in their second innings while chasing a target of 408.

Shahbaz Ahmed was named Player of the Match for his all-round contribution. The left-hander struck 8 fours and 4 sixes during his 203-ball innings of 121, anchoring Bengal's recovery in the first innings and claiming his third First-Class century. With the ball, he took 2/22 in Kerala's first innings and 2/19 in the second, finishing with figures of 4/41 across the match.

Shahbaz Ahmed, returning from a knee injury sustained during the Duleep Trophy, reflected on his all-round contribution to Bengal's commanding victory. The left-hander emphasised the collective nature of the team's performance and the challenging conditions faced by the batsmen at the venue.

"I am on a comeback trail after injuring my knee in the Duleep Trophy. I did well with the ball in the last match and I have done well with the bat now. It is pretty satisfying that I could contribute to the team's win," Shahbaz Ahmed was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

"It was not an easy pitch to bat on: there was help for the spinners. I took chances and played my shots. Ankur Paul, Sumanta Gupta and Pradipta Pramanik also played their part in helping us reach a good total. Pradipta was taking wickets from one end and I only had to do the supporting role. Overall, it was a good team effort," he added.

What was Pradipta Pramanik's role in Bengal's dominant win?

Pradipta Pramanik delivered an outstanding bowling performance to claim his maiden 10-wicket match haul in First Class cricket. The spinner took 6/51 in Kerala's second innings to go with his 4/44 in the first, combining for 10/95 across the match. Playing his 19th First Class match, Pramanik dismissed Kerala captain Vishnu Vinod for 19 on the final day as the hosts crumbled in their chase.

Pramanik, who bowls left-arm orthodox, attributed his success to precise line and length execution on a turning surface.

"The ball was turning when I was batting and I realised I needed to hit the right length to extract maximum help from the pitch," Pramanik said.

Most of my dismissals came from catches in the slip cordon," he added, explaining how the pitch conditions created opportunities for catches in close fielding positions.

Why did Bengal's coach decide against enforcing the follow-on?

Bengal's decision-making proved crucial in securing the victory. Coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla opted not to enforce the follow-on despite Kerala's weak first-innings total of 141, choosing instead to bat again. Shukla prioritised bowler rest and managing the humidity conditions at the venue over pursuing the additional bonus point.

"We didn't want to bat again, so we decided to forgo the bonus point. We are happy with six points," Shukla said.

I was a little surprised when we were asked to bat first on this pitch," Shukla reflected, indicating that the surface favoured the bowling side.

Mohammed Shami, the experienced pacer, played a key role in Bengal's bowling attack. He bagged three wickets in the first innings and two in the second.

"Shami is a champion bowler... he bowled with a lot of intent," Shukla added, acknowledging the veteran seamer's contribution to the team's dominant performance. Shami dismissed Aditya Sarwate and Vaisakh Chandran in Kerala's second innings.

Ankur Paul contributed 66 runs in Bengal's first innings, while Sumanta Gupta added 49. In the second innings, Abhimanyu Easwaran scored 47 and Sudip Chatterjee made 34, with Shami contributing 26. Kerala's second-innings chase saw Mohammed Azharuddeen score 26 off 44 balls with three boundaries, and MD Nidheesh make 33 off 28 deliveries with five fours and a six, but these efforts proved insufficient against Bengal's bowling attack.

The victory marked Bengal's third consecutive win of the season, consolidating their position at the top of Elite Group C with 18 points. The team's balanced performance across batting and bowling demonstrated the collective strength that Shahbaz Ahmed highlighted in his assessment of the match.