Press Conference and Trophy Reveal Launches this Year’s Prem Ranjan Tournament
The 14th edition of the Prem Ranjan Memorial Cricket Tournament 2026-27 is set to begin on September 4 at the Sangam Grounds. The tournament will run until September 9, with PHD, HS25, HS22 and HS26 competing for the Prem Ranjan trophy.
The tournament is held in memory of Prem Ranjan, an alumnus of the HS 2008 batch, and has been a part of the department’s sporting culture for several years. Ahead of the tournament, the Captains’ Press Conference and trophy reveal were held at HSB 354 on Wednesday, September 2. Anchors Vinayak and Anuj moderated the proceedings, which brought together the captains of all four teams – Praveen Chhetri (PHD), Purushottham Biswal (HS25), Akhil Rama Kasibhatta (HS22) and Bijan Kumar Singha (HS26) – to discuss their squads, preparations, and expectations for the tournament. Department Legislator Vishal Raj then unveiled the tournament trophy, officially setting the stage for this year’s competition.
For the department’s PHD scholars, this year is another opportunity to finish what they have come close to doing in recent seasons. The team has placed runner-up in the last three editions, and captain Praveen Chhetri will be looking to take the team one step further this time. PHD will also have to make up for the absence of experienced players such as Akash Yadav, Debranjan and Usha. At the same time, the team now has a good mix of four female players, with Shaniya set to bowl two overs. The team is particularly looking forward to her contribution after her strong performances, which could add another dimension to their campaign. Their bowling also continues to have a familiar name in Libin John, who has taken 15 wickets over the last two seasons.
HS25 will be playing with a restructured squad this year. The team could potentially have three girls in its playing XI, which gives them additional options under the tournament rules. Last year’s team had important contributions from players such as Kanishk and Piyush, and it remains to be seen how the new squad comes together. For captain Purushottham Biswal, the tournament also carries some personal significance as he enters his final year. After a bronze-medal finish in the past, he will be hoping to end his Prem Ranjan campaign with a stronger result.
For HS22, consistency will be a major focus. The team played 13 matches over the last three seasons, winning five and losing eight, and is yet to finish in the medal positions. At the same time, their batting has shown plenty of attacking intent. HS22 hit 60 sixes last year, the highest among the four teams. Captain Akhil Rama Kasibhatta, known for his strategic bowling and strong fielding, will look to lead the side towards greater consistency, while the aggressive play of Santhosh Satyala could provide HS22 with the attacking edge they need to turn their batting strength into more wins this season. As the HS22 batch also nears the end of its five-year journey, this tournament could be an important final campaign for the team.
HS26, meanwhile, enters the tournament as the new team. Led by Bijan Kumar Singha, the squad has a large number of all-rounders, giving the captain several options when it comes to both batting and bowling. As a new team, HS26 will also have to adjust to a competition with its own established rivalries and playing patterns. The contribution of their girl players, particularly under the tournament’s 3× multiplier rule, could also become an important part of their strategy.
The session also included team-specific questions and interactions with the audience, giving the captains a chance to speak about their teams, strengths and expectations for the tournament. The rapid-fire round brought in predictions for the final hypothetical match situations and questions about how the captains would respond under pressure, making the session more interactive and giving a glimpse into the teams’ preparations ahead of the tournament. The tournament will also see the introduction of the Red and Blue Caps, replacing the Orange and Purple Caps, along with an updated rule allowing another girl player to bat in the top six.
The scoring records could also be tested this year. The highest score in the 2024 season was 195 runs in 10 overs, while last year’s highest score was 171 runs in 12 overs. With the changes to the playing rules, the captains were also asked to predict how high the scores could go this season.
With PHD looking to finally lift the trophy after three runner-up finishes, HS25 entering its captain’s final campaign, HS22 looking to end its five-year journey on a high, and HS26 beginning its first tournament, each team comes into the competition with something to prove.
The Captains’ Press Conference has set the tone for an intense series of matches. From September 4 onwards, the outcome will reveal itself on the field.
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Photo credits: Aniket Raj
Report by Sania K J
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