Sports

Bengal Pro T20 makes impact in debut season

by Trans World Features | @twfindia 18 Jul 2024, 03:01 pm

Kolkata/IBNS: The inaugural session of IPL-style Bengal Pro T20 League has showcased the potential for local cricket to rival international standards in terms of viewership and excitement.

Despite facing challenges such as the monsoon season and competition from global sporting events like the T20 World Cup and Euro Football Championships, the league managed to carve out a niche for itself with strong broadcasting and professional presentation.

The Bengal Pro T20 has had a head start with India’s cricketing icons Sourav Ganguly and Jhulan Goswmai as the faces for the League.

Though the league can address several areas to improve and sustain its growth.

The standout performers in the Men’s league were International star Mukesh Kumar of Sobisco Smashers Malda with 16 wickets while Prianshu Srivastav was the highest run getter with 345 runs.

Writtick Chatterjee received 3 awards -- best all rounder, player of the tournament and highest sixes.

A few others like Asif Ali, Saksham Chowdhury made an impact.

Of course the takeaway was the fact that the league needs to focus on nurturing local talent to create home-grown stars.

The Women's League, while a commendable inclusion, requires more attention in terms of infrastructure, facilities, and promotion to ensure parity with the men's league.

It might benefit from being run separately to better cater to its unique needs and potential for growth.

The top scorer was Dhara Gujjar of Adamas Howrah Warriors with 221 runs while Priyanka Sarkar of Murshidabad Kueens grabbed 13 wickets.

Finally, securing a better window from the BCCI for the league is crucial.

The current timing conflicts with other major events, which affects its visibility and audience engagement.

With these improvements, the Bengal Pro T20 League can become a significant platform for Bengal's cricketers, potentially feeding talent into the IPL and the national team.