Assam will begin their 2026-27 Ranji Trophy campaign with a tough away fixture against Punjab in New Mullanpur, but there is a sense of cautious optimism surrounding the team as a prolonged pre-season, renewed focus on mental conditioning and greater squad depth usher in a new era under head coach Kiran Powar.The former Mumbai cricketer, who also represented Assam as a professional player during his playing days, returns to familiar territory with a clear objective: transform a team that finished near the bottom of the table last season into a more competitive and resilient unit.Rather than making ambitious predictions, Powar has set realistic targets. The immediate goal is improvement in performances and results, while also creating a pathway for more Assam cricketers to earn East Zone recognition.“Unluckily what happened last year, we finished second last from the bottom,” Powar told STOI from New Mullanpur. “I’m not going to say we are going to go and win the championship. I want to see players performing well and sticking to their game. If four or five players can go and represent East Zone, that means we have done well.”That objective reflects where Assam currently stand in the domestic hierarchy. The side has produced encouraging performances in white-ball cricket in recent seasons, but sustained success in the Ranji Trophy has remained elusive. Powar believes the challenge is not only technical but also mental.One of the first areas he identified after taking charge was the team’s ability to cope with pressure. Assam’s preparations accordingly began as early as May 21 and were divided into three phases: fitness, skill development and mental conditioning.“We put a lot of emphasis on fitness, skill work and the mental side of the game,” Powar said. “From our last performances, I felt we struggled under pressure. To handle that part, thanks to Assam Cricket Association, we had a psychologist (Tribenee Bhattacharyya) on board.”The coach believes strengthening the mental side of the game could play a significant role in turning close contests in Assam’s favour this season.The extended preparation period also gave the coaching staff an opportunity to expand the player pool. Around 50 probables were involved at different stages of the camp, helping selectors identify options across departments and build greater depth for a demanding domestic season.“It is a long season and you don’t want to be caught short because of injuries,” Powar said. “We consciously decided to have a bigger pool of players.”The Assam Premier League (APL) helped uncover fresh talent, while practice matches against Bengal provided valuable match exposure ahead of the season opener.Captain Denish Das remains the central figure in the squad. His recent inclusion in East Zone’s Duleep Trophy-winning squad, even though he did not get a game, serves as an example of the opportunities available to Assam players through strong domestic performances.Powar hopes more of his players can follow a similar path.“I’ve told the boys to play for East Zone selection. If you do well for Assam, those opportunities will come,” he said.While Assam’s batting has generally fared better than its bowling in recent seasons, consistency remains a concern. The batting unit has shown the ability to produce substantial individual contributions but has not always delivered collectively across an entire season.Bowling, meanwhile, has often been viewed as the department requiring the most improvement. Recognising that, Powar spent considerable time assessing pace and spin resources and identifying backups for every role.“We looked at a lot of fast bowlers this year,” he said. “Last season there was a lot of chopping and changing. We don’t want that. Players need confidence and enough chances to develop.”The coach has also focused on technical fine-tuning, insisting even established first-class cricketers benefit from small adjustments.For Assam, the first test of those changes arrives immediately against a strong Punjab side. Powar, however, wants his players to focus less on reputation and more on discipline. “I’ve told the boys that no team is bigger than another. Just play with discipline, enjoy your cricket and focus on the basics.”“I often remind them of Jammu & Kashmir defeating a star-studded Mumbai side (in a Ranji Trophy group match in Jan 2025). That result came through discipline and commitment. If our players remain disciplined and stick to their strengths, they can compete against any team,” added the former Mumbai U-23 coach.If Assam can combine stronger mental resilience, improved bowling performances and greater consistency with the bat, the season may not just bring better results but also produce the next group of cricketers capable of carrying the state’s ambitions beyond the domestic stage.Squad (for opening two matches): Denish Das (captain), Sibsankar Roy, Rajveer Singh, Nibir Deka, Rishav Das, Swarupam Purkayastha, Sumit Ghadigaonkar (vice-captain & wk), Anurag Talukdar, Mohit Thakur, Amlanjyoti Das, Mukhtar Hussain, Sunil Lachit, Dipjyoti Saikia, Roshan Alam, Bishal Newar.Standby Players: Rituraj Biswas, Ayush Agarwal, Darshan Rajbangshi, Hridip Deka, Akash Sengupta, Bhargab Pratim Lahkar, Abdul Ajij Kuraishi, Rahul Singh, Bishal Saha.Assam’s 2026-27 fixtures: Oct 13-16: vs Punjab, Mullanpur; Oct 20-23: vs Tripura, Guwahati; Nov 3-6: vs Chhattisgarh, Raipur; Nov 10-13: vs Hyderabad, Guwahati; Nov 17-20: vs Vidarbha, Guwahati; Nov 24-27: vs Himachal Pradesh, Dharamsala; Dec 1-4: vs Tamil Nadu, Guwahati.Best finish: Semifinals in 2015–16 season, lost to Mumbai
