West Bengal has given India some great cricketers but it has not been able to become the hub of Indian cricket that it could have been. States like Punjab, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh have gone far ahead. However there are some cricketers who have represented India from West Bengal. The hope is that rye flow from West Bengal to the Indian team grows in the coming years.
Let’s look at the 5 Cricketers to play for India from West Bengal
Sourav Ganguly
He is easily the most famous cricketer to play for India from West Bengal. He hails from an area called Behala in West Bengal. Sourav Ganguly is also known as the Prince of Kolkata. He made Bengal cricket proud. He played 113 Test Matches for India. He made 7212 runs with 16 hundreds and 1 double hundred for India. Sourav Ganguly played 311 ODIs for India. He scored 11363 runs and he hit 22 hundreds in his ODI career. Dada hit 38 international hundreds. Sourav Ganguly was also the captain of India for 5 years and he transformed Indian cricket. Check here List of Records Held by Sourav Ganguly
Pankaj Roy
Pankaj Roy was a player that played for India. He was from Kolkata in West Bengal. He was the batter that had the 413 run opening stand with the great Vinoo Mankad. He played 79 Innings as a batter in Test Cricket. He made 2442 runs in Test Cricket. Pankaj Roy hit 5 hundreds in Test Cricket with a Highest score of 173. He was one of the best players to play from West Bengal. He is someone that should be talked about more when talking about Bengal cricket.
Arun Lal
Arun Lal did not play much cricket for India but he played a few Test Matches and ODIs. Arun Lal played 16 Test Matches for India. He was not originally from West Bengal but it was Bengal cricket that gave him a name. Arun Lal made 729 runs with 6 half centuries. He also played in 13 ODIs for India. Arun Lal could have played so much more cricket for India. He then went on to become one of the best commentators in Indian cricket.
Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami does not originally hail from West Bengal but it will be fair to say that he is a product of West Bengal cricket. He plays his domestic cricket for West Bengal. Mohammed Shami is one of the best cricketers that Bengal cricket has produced after Sourav Ganguly. He has played 64 Test Matches for India. He has taken 229 Wickets in Test Cricket. He has taken 6 Five Wicket Hauls in Test Cricket. Mohammed Shami has also played 108 ODIs for India. He has taken 206 Wickets. He has taken 6 Five Wicket Hauls and 16 Four Wicket Hauls in ODI Cricket. Mohammed Shami is currently out of the team. Know here Best Bowling Performances of Mohammed Shami
Wriddhiman Saha
Wriddhiman Saha is from Siliguri in West Bengal. He was one of the best Wicket Keepers to play Test Cricket for India in the last 10 years. He played 40 Test Matches for India. He scored 1353 runs with 3 hundreds in Test Cricket. He has taken 92 Catches as a Wicket keeper and he also has 13 stumpings to his name. Wriddhiman Saha is no longer playing Test Cricket. Players like Akash Deep are the new breed of West Bengal cricket.
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