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Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Since 2018, the year Anukul Roy became a member of the Indian team that went on to win the Men’s U19 World Cup in New Zealand, he has mainly been a bench player in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Roy, a handy batter who also bowls left-arm orthodox spin, has only 12 IPL appearances – four of which came in the 2023 and 2024 seasons for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

But after a phenomenal domestic season for Jharkhand, Roy believes 2026 is finally the year the wait ends for him to have a regular spot in Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) line-up. "I am feeling excited to play. This year has been good, and the domestic season went well. So, I am thinking that I can get a chance this year.

“We are preparing very well for that here in Kolkata, and have already done some preparation in Mumbai. So, it has been very good. I have been waiting to play (regularly) for many years - so, I have a huge excitement feeling about this," Roy tells IANS in an exclusive conversation from Kolkata.