Bengal have produced generations of international cricketers, reached the business end of the Ranji Trophy repeatedly and possessed resources their predecessors could scarcely have imagined. Yet one statistic continues to overshadow it all: the state’s last Ranji Trophy title came in 1989-90. More than three and a half decades later, former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta and Sambaran Banerjee, the captain of that last championship-winning Bengal side, believe the prolonged drought demands introspection.

While Dasgupta has called for better mentoring, talent management and a review of the local cricketing ecosystem, Banerjee has gone a step further — questioning the team’s collective identity, the proliferation of outstation players and what he sees as an increasing emphasis on individual milestones over the larger cause.

“Bengal cricket has been underperforming for decades. When you look at the amount of talent Bengal has produced, it is unfortunate. It is also on us — the players and former players who have been part of Bengal cricket — to put our hands up and say that we should have done better, both individually and as a team,” Dasgupta told Sports Now in an exclusive interview.

“We still have good talent coming through. The issue is that we need to mentor them better and handle talent better. We need to identify talent, give them opportunities and open up more avenues. The local cricketing structure also needs a proper look. We need to create more opportunities in red-ball cricket and examine the domestic and local structure,” the former India wicket-keeper added.

“It is a project, to be fair, and it will take time and a lot of effort. But it is something that needs to be addressed because Bengal have underperformed over a long period of time.”

Dasgupta’s assessment raises an uncomfortable question for a cricketing state with Bengal’s history: if talent has never been in short supply, why has the ultimate domestic prize remained elusive for so long? For an answer, Sports Now turned to a man who knows exactly what it takes to cross that final hurdle. Sambaran Banerjee captained Bengal to their last Ranji Trophy triumph in 1989-90. His diagnosis was even more pointed.

“The Bengal team comes very close, plays in the finals and semifinals, but for some reason, they fall short. First, the team needs to genuinely believe: ‘We can do it; we will win.’ Second, as I have consistently pointed out, having too many outstation players seems to dilute the core ‘Bengal connection’ or feeling. Furthermore, when everyone plays for individual milestones, playing as a cohesive unit becomes very difficult. The Bengal coach needs to address this. Laxmi Ratan Shukla is a very capable coach, and the squad looks promising this year, so let’s see how it unfolds,” Banerjee told Sports Now.

On one fundamental point, however, Dasgupta and Banerjee are firmly aligned: responsibility cannot simply be placed at the door of administrators.

“I completely agree. In fact, seasoned former players who have served Bengal for a long time need to be actively involved. A dedicated cricket committee should be established to analyse technically why the team is falling short. You need technical cricket experts for this; regular officials won’t be able to solve it.”

“Just like teams in Mumbai, Bangalore, or Chennai do—they set up five-member technical committees comprising seasoned veterans who understand local cricket inside out. You have to select those individuals, consult them, and implement their advice on what needs to be done. Both present and former players must be actively engaged in this process,” the former Bengal Ranji Trophy-winning captain suggested.

That scrutiny inevitably extends to the administration. Sourav Ganguly has already had a substantial stint at the helm of the CAB and has now returned to the association, creating renewed expectations that one of Indian cricket’s most influential figures can help engineer the change Bengal have long sought.

“It is understandable why people are surprised, but we remain optimistic. Because Sourav is at the helm, there is a strong possibility of positive cricketing changes taking place. We are hopeful this season. However, there needs to be an in-depth review: former players, current players, and the coach should sit down together to pinpoint exactly where the gaps lie,” Banerjee advised.

Perhaps Banerjee’s most revealing comparison came when he looked back at his own championship-winning side. The 1989-90 Bengal team, he recalled, was not short of established names, but its defining strength was the ability to blend those stars with youngsters and make them operate as one unit.

“Leadership is undoubtedly vital, but more importantly, our 1989–90 squad had a remarkable balance of star players and youngsters who played with collective unity. Whenever we stepped onto the field, we defeated formidable opponents like Delhi, Bombay, Hyderabad, and Tamil Nadu because we played strictly as a cohesive team. That collective spirit is what seems to be missing today. Our team had unwavering self-belief that we could achieve it, and we instilled that mindset in every player,” he remembered.

The 72-year-old, however, rejected the suggestion that Bengal’s prolonged drought can simply be blamed on a deficient domestic structure. If anything, he believes today’s cricketers operate in an environment vastly superior to the one available to his generation.

“I don’t believe the structure is the problem. Compared to our era, the CAB provides players today with vastly superior facilities, much better infrastructure, and significantly higher match fees. You might be surprised to learn that back in our day, we earned around ₹50 per four-day match for Bengal, whereas players now earn upwards of ₹1.5 lakh per match. While money is not the issue, players must fully utilise the extensive resources at their disposal. The shortcomings, in my opinion, stem from how these opportunities and resources are utilised,” he offered a striking comparison.

Between Dasgupta’s call for better talent management and Banerjee’s demand for greater collective responsibility, a common theme emerges: Bengal’s Ranji Trophy drought can no longer be explained away by a shortage of talent. Dasgupta wants the system to identify, mentor and create better pathways for cricketers; Banerjee wants technical minds involved in decision-making and, above all, the restoration of a team-first culture.

Thirty-six years after he led Bengal to the summit, Banerjee’s comparison with 1989-90 is perhaps the most telling of all. His generation had fewer facilities, dramatically lower financial rewards and none of the advantages available today — but, in his telling, they possessed something money and infrastructure cannot guarantee: eleven players convinced that Bengal winning mattered more than any one of them succeeding. Until that belief becomes collective again, the state’s long wait for a third Ranji Trophy may remain Bengal cricket’s most uncomfortable question.