[caption id="attachment_34937" align="aligncenter" width="580"]4b248e8e-d2ad-4700-99c9-60b59e52a2f1 Bengal players celebrating with the trophy on Sunday. Image Source: XtraTime[/caption] Internet Desk: The Bengal U-19 team have created history after 19 long years, as they won the prestigious Cooch Behar Trophy by taking a crucial lead of 79 runs in the first innings against host Delhi at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on Sunday. Starting the final day on 272/6, the pair of Saurabh Singh(196) and Kanishk Seth(91) added 90 runs more for Bengal which helped them to cross Delhi’s score as Bengal ended their innings on 393. In the second innings Delhi scored 60 for 4 at the end of final day’s play. CAB president Sourav Ganguly has announced that the U-19 Bengal Team will be awarded by ten lakh ruppies in cash for their achievement. The Bengal team will return home tomorrow. On Tuesday in presence of captain Md Irfan Ansari, coach Pranab Nandi and other officials CAB’s flag will be hoisted and the players will be felicited at the Eden Gardens. Former Bengal U-19 coach Gopal Basu under whom Bengal last won the Cooch Behar Trophy 19 years back was very happy about the achievement about the boys. He said,” They are young and they have done well, but it is just the start. If they get overconfident with this performance it will be dangerous for their future. A lot of talented players loose their focus at this age. From last time’s Champion team only Laxmiratan Shukla featured for India, but it was just for few matches. From the U-19 Indian squad, who won the World Cup under the leadership of Virat Kohli, just two players from that team are playing in India’s senior team, Kohli himself and Ravindra Jadeja. So the boys need to be careful and they should only focus in their game.” He also added,” In these days the boys get a lot of support from the CAB. In our time we didn’t get proper training and good facilities, which they are getting in these days. They should capitalize what they are getting now.” Former Bengal captain Laxmiratan Shukla lauded the Bengal colts for their achievements. Laxmi said,” Our boys have repeated the history again after 19 long years and I am really very proud of them. The CAB officials spent a lot of money behind the Bengal senior team but they failed to capitalize on that opportunity. But our juniors have done what their elder brothers failed to do and this is a proud moment for all of us.” Bengal coach Pranab Nandi is very passionate about Cricket. He left his job to coach East Bengal club 16 years back. Nandi was very proud about his boys and he gave all the credits to his team for this feat. “The boys are saying that I am the mastermind behind this achievement, but in my view it is the players, who have to perform in the field and our boys have done that” Nandi said. Man of the match Saurabh Singh was very happy about their achievement and he gave all the credits to their coach Pranab Nandi for this win.” I played for Shyambazar last season in the local league, where I used to bat on 4th or 5th position. It was Pranab sir, who told me to bat at number 3. He might have seen that I can bat for a long time and I want to give all the credits to my coach” Saurabh told. About his partnership with Kanishk, he added,” We didn’t think to much about taking any lead against Delhi. When we went to bat on day 4 the aim was just to play the ball with it’s merit and bat well to the end.” Kanishk Seth, who was once a pick of the bowler for U-19 Indian squad, played a gem of an innings with his bat of 91 runs. He was out for a season due to a back injury but he came back in style and played a major role for Bengal to win the trophy.” I was in pressure, as I couldn’t get any wicket in the first innings. After getting into the crease my aim was to help Saurabh as much as possible and I am happy that I have contributed with the bat.”

Bengal U-19 colts clinch Cooch Behar Trophy after 19 years