CAB retains Laxmi Ratan Shukla as Bengal head coach for 2026-27 season
Synopsis
The CAB has kept faith with Laxmi Ratan Shukla despite a semi-final exit, while stacking Bengal's age-group setup with three former India names — Tiwary, Saha, and Majumdar. It is a clear signal that Bengal is building for the long haul, not just patching for one season.
Key Takeaways
Laxmi Ratan Shukla retained as Bengal senior men's head coach for the 2026-27 domestic season after an independent panel review.
Surendra Bhave — 7,971 runs in 97 first-class matches , 2011 World Cup selector — appointed deputy coach and batting consultant.
Manoj Tiwary named men's under-19 head coach ; Wriddhiman Saha continues as men's under-23 head coach .
Anustup Majumdar retires after a 22-year career to take charge as men's under-16 head coach .
Bengal face Jharkhand , Maharashtra , Gujarat , and others in the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 group stage.
The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has retained former India all-rounder Laxmi Ratan Shukla as head coach of the Bengal senior men's team for the 2026-27 domestic cricket season, while appointing former Maharashtra batter Surendra Bhave as his deputy and batting consultant. The confirmation came on Thursday, 28 May following an independent screening process.
How the Selection Was Conducted
The CAB had invited applications for a broader set of coaching roles on 24 April, triggering speculation that Shukla's tenure could end after Bengal fell to eventual Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir in the semi-finals at Kalyani. An independent panel comprising Arun Lal, Devang Gandhi, and Kalyan Choudhury conducted the evaluation. 'The evaluation was conducted strictly independently through comprehensive interviews, ensuring a fair, merit-based and unbiased selection process,' the CAB said in a statement.
Shukla and Bhave: What They Bring
Shukla has been at the helm of Bengal's senior men's setup since 2022, guiding the side to the Ranji Trophy final in 2022-23 and two semi-final appearances. Bhave, who amassed 7,971 runs from 97 first-class matches at an average of 58.18, brings extensive coaching experience across Maharashtra, Punjab, and Odisha. He was also a member of the selection committee that chose India's 2011 Men's ODI World Cup-winning squad.
Age-Group Coaching Appointments
Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary begins his coaching career as men's under-19 head coach, assisted by Dattatreya Mukherjee. Ex-India wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha continues as men's under-23 head coach, with Sabir Ali as his deputy. Anustup Majumdar, who scored 5,962 runs from 103 first-class matches at an average of 41.40 for Bengal over a 22-year career, has retired from playing to take charge as men's under-16 head coach, assisted by Gautam Shome (Jr).
Bengal's Domestic Fixtures for 2026-27
In the Ranji Trophy, Bengal are placed alongside Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Services, Gujarat, Kerala, Delhi, and Odisha. For the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, Bengal are in Group A with reigning champions Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Baroda, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Karnataka, and Mizoram. In the Vijay Hazare Trophy, they feature in Group D alongside Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Tripura, Odisha, Assam, and Pondicherry.
What This Means for Bengal Cricket
The continuity at the top, combined with the infusion of high-profile names like Tiwary, Saha, and Majumdar at the age-group level, signals a structured long-term approach from the CAB. Notably, all three age-group coaches are former Bengal stalwarts, ensuring institutional knowledge flows directly into the development pipeline ahead of a demanding domestic season.
Point of View
However, is in the age-group tier: deploying Tiwary, Saha, and Majumdar simultaneously is an unusually deep investment in Bengal's pipeline. Whether these high-profile appointments translate into Ranji-ready talent or become ceremonial roles will define whether this restructuring is substance or optics. Bengal has reached two semi-finals and a final under Shukla, but converting that consistency into a title remains the unfinished business.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Laxmi Ratan Shukla retained as Bengal's head coach?
Shukla was retained following an independent evaluation by a panel of Arun Lal, Devang Gandhi, and Kalyan Choudhury, which conducted comprehensive interviews across all coaching applicants. The CAB cited a fair, merit-based process as the basis for his continuation, despite Bengal's semi-final exit in the Ranji Trophy.
Who is Surendra Bhave and what is his role with Bengal?
Surendra Bhave is a former Maharashtra batter who scored 7,971 runs in 97 first-class matches at an average of 58.18. He has been appointed Bengal's deputy head coach and batting consultant, and was previously a member of the selection panel that chose India's 2011 ODI World Cup-winning team.
What coaching role will Manoj Tiwary take up?
Manoj Tiwary will serve as Bengal's men's under-19 head coach, marking the start of his coaching career. Dattatreya Mukherjee has been named his deputy.
What is Anustup Majumdar's new role after retirement?
Anustup Majumdar has retired from playing after a 22-year career — during which he scored 5,962 runs in 103 first-class matches for Bengal — to become the men's under-16 head coach, assisted by Gautam Shome (Jr).
Which groups is Bengal placed in for the 2026-27 domestic season?
Bengal are in the same Ranji Trophy group as Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Services, Gujarat, Kerala, Delhi, and Odisha. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy they are in Group A, and in the Vijay Hazare Trophy they are in Group D.
