Tonge has moved swiftly to replace original pro Hashan Dumindu with Ranji Trophy run machine Chetan Bist for their 2022 Bolton League campaign.
Due to upcoming domestic commitments, Hashan recently withdrew from his contract paving way for the Indian stars’ signing.
Ranji Trophy chart topper
Chetan Bist is an absolute run machine who recently topped the Ranji Trophy run charts (group stages) hitting 5 centuries, in only 4 games, amongst 623 runs at 311.50.
An accomplished wicket-keeper batter, Bist plays his domestic cricket for Nagaland in India. He moved to the mountainous north-eastern state for the 2020/21 season, following 6 seasons with Rajasthan (2013/14-19/20).
Runs galore across all formats
It’s fair to say Bist has excelled. In the absence of Ranji Trophy cricket due to COVID (2020/21), Bist impressed in white-ball cricket, in particular the Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy. He was a standout during the past two tournaments averaging 76.50 (2020/21), and 51.00 (2021/22).
Roll on February 2022 and the return of Ranji Trophy cricket. Bist would go on to top the Ranji run charts hitting 623 runs at 311.50 with 5 centuries against Sikkim (115), Arunachal (155*), Mizoram (119, 100*), and Jharkhand (122*) in the Preliminary quarter-final.
From Rajasthan to Nagaland
Prior to his move north, Bist was a steady performer for Rajasthan hitting 1,266 runs at 28.13 in Ranji Trophy cricket, including 2 centuries and 8 fifties. His numbers in white-ball cricket are equally impressive with List A and T20 averages in the high 20s.
With the gloves, he is gifted behind the sticks with nearly 200 dismissals across his 91 matches to date.
Set for UK stint following time in South Africa
The talented Indian all-rounder is now looking to showcase his skills in UK league cricket in 2022. Whilst he hasn’t played in the UK previously, he has experience abroad with several dominant seasons in South Africa prior to breaking into Indian domestic cricket.
He played for Topham in the KwaZulu-Natal Cricket Union in 2010/11, then moved to Chatsworth United the following year where he subsequently won the Premier League “Batter of the Year” award.
Bist Bolton bound
A highly rated cricketer, Bist is set to play for Tonge Cricket Club for their 2022 Bolton Cricket League campaign.