Delhi Capitals cricketer returns to squad ahead of Ranji Trophy days after bail in sex offense case

Abhishek Porel of Delhi Capitals Abishek Porel has been included in Bengal’s senior squad for practice matches against Assam at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati, marking his return to the national side following his arrest in a case involving allegations of rape and other sexual offences.The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) announced the squad on Tuesday, with Sudip Chatterjee named as the captain. The Bengal team is scheduled to leave Kolkata on September 30 and return on October 6 when preparations for the 2026 Ranji Trophy season begin.Porel, who plays for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League, has not appeared in competitive cricket since IPL 2026, where he played four matches.The goalkeeper was arrested by the Kolkata police on August 11 following a complaint filed by a young medical student. An FIR was registered at the Magra police station on June 30.The complainant claimed that Porel had sexual relations with her based on the promise of marriage. She also accused him of threatening to publish intimate photos of her and claiming that she was forced into a physical relationship.Porel denied the charges before his arrest.The cricketer was booked under 19 sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with most of the charges being non-bailable. Sections of the Information Technology Act were also included in the case.Porel spent more than a month in jail before being released on bail on September 18 on charges including rape and arranged marriage.The trial came before the Calcutta High Court on August 11 when the Magra police informed Justice Sougat Bhattacharyya about Porela’s arrest. He was subsequently brought before a Chinsurah court where a judge ordered the police to examine the electronic devices in his possession.The police later arrested another of Porel’s friends and also the complainant in connection with the case.Porel’s selection in the Bengals squad comes just over a week after he was released on bail and brings him back to form ahead of the new domestic season.Bengal Team: Sudip Chatterjee (captain), Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ankur Paul, Ankit Shukla, Sumanta Gupta, Subham Chatterjee, Abishek Porel (WK), Shakir Habib Gandhi (WK), Pradipta Pramanik, Karan Lal, Aamir Gani, Soumyadip Mandal, Madajhu Sindhu. Kaif, Geet Puri and Ishan Porel.