The last time Assam fielded a Ranji Trophy XI without a single player from Silchar was in the 2022 – 23 season, during the match against Maharashtra at Ambi from January 3 to 6. Back then, Abhishek Thakuri was the only Silchar player in the squad. He did not feature in that match because he had been dropped after a brief outing against Delhi. He returned to the side in the next fixture against Mumbai, scored a half-century, and retained his place for the remainder of the season.
What followed in 2023–24 was the strongest season Silchar had ever recorded in the Ranji Trophy. It began with only Rahul Singh in the XI. Then, on February 2, 2024, against Uttar Pradesh, Parvej Musaraf made a memorable debut, scoring a century for Assam. He plays his cricket in Silchar, representing the India Club, Silchar. A week later, on February 9, 2024, against Bihar, Abhishek Thakuri returned and marked his comeback with another century. For the first time in Assam’s Ranji history, three players from Silchar – Musaraf, Thakuri and Singh, played together.
The last match of that season, played in Mumbai against Mumbai at Bandra Kurla Complex’s Jio Gardens, will be inducted as a golden chapter in the history of Silchar DSA. Dibakar Johri made his debut in that match and took five wickets that included Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, Tanush Kotian and Tushar Deshpande. That was the first and the last time, four players from Silchar played in the playing 11 of a Ranji Trophy match.
If that was the moment of collective pride, today, November 16, 2025, the story has reversed. Assam began their match against Bengal with zero players from Silchar in the XI. This absence is not incidental; it is symptomatic. Rahul Singh has reportedly been rested. Both Parvej Musaraf and Abhishek Thakuri have been dropped. Johri, who underwent surgery after his debut season, has completed his rehabilitation at the NCA and has been fit for several months. Despite playing domestic tournaments under ACA and DSA Silchar since recovery, he has not been considered for selection.
The larger question is not why these four names are missing today. It is why Silchar cricket has been allowed to drift into this position in the first place.
It is November, and cricket season has started all over the country. In Guwahati, Tripura, or far away in Delhi or Mumbai, the local cricket bodies have started the age-group, senior division cricket matches. In Silchar, the Silchar DSA is still in the middle of its football season. When the selectors are looking around for cricket scores, they find nothing in Silchar. And by January, when the cricket season gathers momentum in Silchar, the state management is already prepared with the core squad. This laggard approach is costing cricketers from Silchar across all age groups a great fortune.
Infrastructure tells the same story. Silchar DSA has prioritised concrete blocks, gallery construction and ceremonial claims of “completion”, while core cricketing needs remain unaddressed. A ground without proper turf practice wickets cannot host domestic matches. This season, Tinsukia has received two Ranji Trophy games. Silchar has received none. Yet, at a prize distribution ceremony, the local MLA declared that IPL matches would one day be held at this stadium. For a venue without even the minimum five turf practice strips, the claim exposes how far ambition has drifted from reality. It reminds of a local saying, “Ghore Nei Noon, Chele Amar Mithun”.
Silchar cricket is not suffering because of a lack of talent. It is suffering because of a lack of structure, urgency and alignment with the rest of the cricketing ecosystem. Today’s Ranji XI, empty of Silchar representation, is not merely a selection call; it is an outcome of administrative neglect, delayed calendars and misplaced priorities.
November 16, 2025, should not be seen as an unfortunate coincidence. It should be recognised for what it is: a preventable low point. And unless Silchar DSA corrects its approach – starting with scheduling, infrastructure and player pathways – this low will not remain an exception. It will become the norm.
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