Tezpur Titans captain Ayushman Malakar backs process over results in APL
Synopsis
Tezpur Titans are winless after three games in the inaugural Assam Premier League, but their 20-year-old captain Ayushman Malakar is refusing to panic. His conviction that small margins — not talent gaps — explain the defeats makes this one of the more compelling underdog stories of the tournament's opening week.
Key Takeaways
Tezpur Titans have lost all three opening matches of the inaugural Assam Premier League (APL) .
Captain Ayushman Malakar , aged 20 , says the team is focused on process over results.
Malakar attributes defeats to 'small moments' rather than a quality gap with opponents.
He described the APL as a 'fantastic platform' for local cricketers to earn opportunities at higher levels.
Malakar defended the pitch at the Guwahati international venue, urging his batters to play with greater confidence.
Tezpur Titans captain Ayushman Malakar has urged patience and trust in the process as his side looks to reverse a difficult start to the inaugural Assam Premier League (APL), having lost all three of their opening fixtures. The 20-year-old all-rounder, speaking in Guwahati on 7 August, said steady improvement remains the team's north star regardless of the scoreboard.
Malakar's Mindset
'I don't believe in results. I just trust the process. I am doing my best for my team. If things go according to the plan, the performances will follow,' Malakar said. The young captain has taken on a significant burden for a side still searching for its first APL win, yet his composure belies his age.
Where the Titans Are Going Wrong
Tezpur Titans have been competitive across all three defeats, with Malakar pointing to fine margins rather than fundamental flaws. 'Our team has lost a few games because of small moments that haven't gone our way, but we'll come back stronger,' he added. The assessment suggests the gap between the Titans and their opponents has been slender, even if the results column tells a starker story.
The APL's Significance for Local Cricket
Malakar also praised the standard of the tournament, describing the Assam Premier League as a vital launchpad for cricketers from the state. 'Every match has been a nail-biter. The competition has been excellent from the very first day, and this is a fantastic platform for players to show what they are capable of. Performances here can open doors to the next level,' he said. The APL, in its inaugural edition, is already drawing attention as a credible pathway for Assam's cricketing talent.
Pitch and Conditions
Deflecting any suggestion that surface conditions have hampered batting, Malakar defended the quality of the pitch at the international venue in Guwahati. 'The wicket has been very good. It's an international venue, so there is no reason to question the pitch. Our batters simply need to back themselves and play with greater confidence because the ability is certainly there,' he said. His remarks indicate the Titans' struggles have been mental and situational rather than structural.
What's Next for the Titans
With the remainder of the APL fixtures still ahead, Tezpur Titans will need to convert their captain's optimism into wins to stay alive in the competition. If the margins have indeed been as fine as Malakar suggests, a single momentum shift could trigger the turnaround he is banking on.
Point of View
But Malakar's process-first framing is either a sign of genuine maturity or a coping mechanism — and the remaining fixtures will tell us which. What the APL is already revealing is that Assam's domestic T20 circuit is genuinely competitive, with fine margins separating teams rather than clear quality tiers. That is good news for the tournament's credibility, even if it is cold comfort for the Titans right now. Whether a 20-year-old captain can translate philosophical calm into tactical adjustments mid-tournament is the real question mainstream coverage is not asking.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ayushman Malakar?
Ayushman Malakar is the 20-year-old captain and all-rounder of Tezpur Titans in the inaugural Assam Premier League (APL) . He is one of the younger captains in the competition and has spoken publicly about leading his side through a difficult start to the tournament.
How has Tezpur Titans performed in the Assam Premier League so far?
Tezpur Titans have lost all three of their opening matches in the inaugural APL and are yet to register a win. Captain Ayushman Malakar has attributed the defeats to small moments rather than a significant gap in quality.
What is the Assam Premier League?
The Assam Premier League (APL) is a state-level T20 cricket tournament in its inaugural edition, held in Guwahati . It serves as a platform for local Assam cricketers to showcase their talent and potentially earn opportunities at higher levels of the game.
What did Ayushman Malakar say about the pitch conditions?
Malakar defended the playing surface, stating it has been 'very good' given that matches are held at an international venue in Guwahati . He said the batters need to back themselves and play with greater confidence rather than blame the conditions.
Can Tezpur Titans still qualify or make a comeback in the APL?
Tezpur Titans still have remaining fixtures in the APL and captain Ayushman Malakar is confident the side can turn things around. He has pointed to fine margins in all three defeats as evidence that a turnaround is achievable.
