Abishek Porel picked for Bengal after bail: Why CAB backed him

Abishek Porel has returned to the Bengal squad after being granted bail in an alleged rape and sexual offences case. The Delhi Capitals wicketkeeper-batter was arrested on August 11 following a complaint filed on June 30. He was granted bail on September 18 and has now been included in Bengal’s squad for upcoming red-ball practice matches.

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has named a 16-member squad for practice fixtures against Assam at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati. Porel has been selected as one of the two wicketkeeper-batters in the squad, along with Shakir Habib Gandhi. The Bengal team is scheduled to travel to Guwahati on September 30 for the practice matches.

Porel’s inclusion comes just 11 days after he was granted bail and has attracted attention on social media. Some users have questioned the decision to include him in the squad while the case is ongoing. CAB, however, has defended his selection as Bengal prepare for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season.

Abishek Porel named in Bengal's Ranji Trophy practice squad for Assam games

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has included wicketkeeper-batter Abishek Porel in Bengal’s squad for practice matches ahead of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season. The squad was announced on September 29, marking Porel’s return to Bengal’s official cricket setup after he was released on bail.

Porel was not included in Bengal’s senior probables list announced on August 22, following his arrest earlier that month. His selection for the upcoming practice matches comes ahead of Bengal’s Ranji Trophy campaign, which is scheduled to begin on October 11, 2026. The practice squad will be led by Sudip Chatterjee.

Bengal will play practice matches against Assam as part of their preparations for the new Ranji Trophy season. Porel has been named alongside Shakir Habib Gandhi as one of the two wicketkeeper-batters in the squad.

Bengal Squad for Practice Matches:

Sudip Chatterjee (Captain), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ankur Paul, Ankit Shukla, Sumanta Gupta, Subham Chatterjee, Abhishek Porel (W.K.), Shakir Habib Gandhi (W.K.), Pradipta Pramanik, Karan Lal, Aamir Gani, Soummyadip Mandal, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Md. Kaif, Geet Puri, Ishan Porel.

What happened to Abishek Porel: The allegations, bail and CAB's position

Abishek Porel was arrested by Kolkata Police on August 11 in connection with a case involving allegations of rape, sexual offences, criminal intimidation and blackmail. The FIR was filed on June 30 at Magra Police Station in West Bengal. According to the police, the complainant, a medical student from Karnataka, alleged that she had been in a relationship with Porel since 2023 and that they had planned to get married.

The complainant also alleged that Porel threatened to share her private photographs and videos. Police booked him under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Porel denied the allegations and maintained that the relationship was consensual. His initial bail plea was rejected, and he remained in judicial custody before being granted bail later.

The case has now drawn attention after Porel was included in Bengal’s practice squad ahead of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season. His selection has led to criticism on social media, with some users questioning the decision while the case is ongoing. Porel, who made his First-Class debut in the 2021-22 season, has also represented the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League.

What Porel's return means for Bengal's Ranji 2026-27 campaign and his IPL future

Abishek Porel’s return gives Bengal another experienced wicketkeeper-batter ahead of the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season. He has built a strong record in domestic cricket, scoring 1,408 runs in 32 first-class matches at an average of 31.28, including one century and 12 fifties.

Porel has also been consistent in List A cricket, where he has scored 833 runs in 23 matches at an average of 43.84. His record includes two centuries and five fifties, highlighting his ability to contribute with the bat in the longer and limited-overs formats.

For Delhi Capitals, Porel has scored 769 runs in 35 IPL matches at a strike rate of 145.37, with four fifties and a highest score of 65. In IPL 2026, he scored 108 runs in four matches. His return to competitive cricket with Bengal could therefore be an important part of his preparations for the next stage of his IPL career.