Shubhamita Bhattacharjee
GUWAHATI, July 28: Middle-order batter Saahil Jain will lead Dibrugarh Warriors in the inaugural Assam Premier League (APL), which is set to begin at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati on August 1. Spinner Jitumoni Kalita has been named the team's vice-captain.
The captain, vice-captain, and the rest of the squad were officially introduced during a glittering ceremony held at a city hotel on Tuesday. The franchise also unveiled its team jersey at the event.
Assam Cabinet Minister Rameswar Teli attended the ceremony as the chief guest, while team owner Arun Kumar Rai was also present on the occasion.
Dibrugarh Warriors are one of the eight franchises competing in the inaugural edition of the Assam Premier League. The team heads into the tournament with high expectations and confidence.
Speaking exclusively to Krirangan, skipper Saahil Jain expressed his excitement about leading the side.
"Stepping up as captain of Dibrugarh Warriors is a huge honour for me. We have a very good team and are optimistic about finishing on the podium," said Jain.
He added that the team's primary focus would be to play quality cricket throughout the tournament.
"We will enter every match with one thing in mind—to play good cricket. It is also a wonderful opportunity for all of us to be part of the Assam Premier League. I believe this tournament will provide players with an excellent platform to showcase their talent and earn opportunities to play in bigger leagues," he said.
Head coach Dhiraj Goswami also sounded confident about the team's prospects.
"We have a balanced squad with quality cricketers in every department. I am hopeful that the team will perform well in the Assam Premier League," Goswami told to Krirangan.
Addressing the gathering, Cabinet Minister Rameswar Teli praised the Assam Cricket Association for launching the league. "The Assam Cricket Association has done an excellent job by introducing the Assam Premier League. This tournament has the potential to produce international cricketers from the state in the coming years," he said.
Reflecting on the franchise's long-term vision, team owner Arun Kumar Rai said the Warriors are committed to promoting local cricketing talent. "At the end of the day, Dibrugarh Warriors is about giving local talent a stage where they can truly showcase what they are capable of. We are glad to contribute to Assam's growing cricket community, and we want to build something that fans across the region can genuinely feel proud to support," Rai said.
PHOTO CAPTION: Dibrugarh Warriors captain Saahil Jain cuts a celebratory cake during the team's official launch ceremony