Somshuvra Laha is a sports journalist with over 11 years' experience writing on cricket, football and other sports. He has covered the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, the 2016 ICC World Twenty20, cricket tours of South Africa, West Indies and Bangladesh and the 2010 Commonwealth Games for Hindustan Times.
Articles by Somshuvra Laha
Lajong duo aims to take club places
Seikhohau Tuboi and Anil Gurung have played together for only three games but Lajong FC coach Stanly Rozario is convinced that they are the best bet upfront. “Both have an amazing goal-scoring touch, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on Dec 26, 2009 12:27 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Guwahati
Shillong shocker for favourites Dempo
Who knew Dempo would have to see this day, being thumped out of the Federation Cup by the babes of I-League?
Updated on Dec 24, 2009 11:44 PM IST
None | Somshuvra Laha, Silchar
Mahindra power ahead
Mahindra United almost assured themselves of a semi-final berth, here at the 31st Federation Cup, after showing the door to Mohammedan Sporting, beating them 1-0 in their Group B encounter late on Wednesday.
Updated on Dec 23, 2009 10:50 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Guwahati
For Pal, life’s good at Pune FC
It’s been almost eight months since Pal left Kolkata for a new club and a whole new experience. India’s No1 goalkeeper — here to play the Federation Cup-spoke to HT about the U-23 team’s triumph in Dhaka, ‘Bob Sir’ and life at Pune FC.
Updated on Dec 23, 2009 12:44 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Guwahati
Insult to injury: Dempo lose match and Beto
On Tuesday, Pune FC started their Group D match of the 31st Federation Cup against Dempo knowing they could stand up to the former I-League champions, having held them 1-1 not so long back in the League, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on Dec 23, 2009 12:37 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Guwahati
Late burst gives Bagan an easy win
If Mohun Bagan thought they would have it easy against Mohammedan Sporting, A. Jothi Kumar forced them to think otherwise with a stunning equaliser. But aided by a late burst which fetched two goals, including one from comeback man Jose Barreto, the defending champions proved too good in the end, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on Dec 21, 2009 11:34 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Guwahati
Injured stars eye Fed Cup comeback
What makes the 31st Federation Cup a little unusual is that at least three India players and the country's best known import would be looking to this as a comeback vehicle.
Updated on Dec 21, 2009 12:18 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Guwahati
Barreto set for Fed Cup test
Jose Ramirez Barreto has been gearing up for the Federation Cup ever since he limped out of the derby against East Bengal on October 25. Teary-eyed, the Brazilian was visibly upset at not finishing the game, which Mohun Bagan won 5-3.
Updated on Dec 20, 2009 12:25 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Guwahati
Long way to go before challenging Pal: Arindam
Goalkeepers are traditionally known to mature late but Arindam Bhattacharya, 20, is bucking the trend. The journey from the senior national camp in 2007 to Sunday’s SAFF Cup win in Dhaka has been a learning curve for the Sodepur boy, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on Dec 17, 2009 11:57 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
Hammond stars in hattrick of wins
East Bengal's revival continues, albeit a few questionable decisions. And it was again the forward duo of Abel Hammond and Yusif Yakubu who came up with the goods against a spirited Lajong FC.
Updated on Nov 13, 2009 12:26 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
Bagan let in soft goals, lose
Kind to Mumbai FC, cruel to Mohun Bagan --- that's how the I-League fortunes have been at the Barasat Stadium whenever the two teams have met, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on Nov 03, 2009 12:50 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
Bagan’s high fives in derby goal rush
Nigerian import Edeh Chidi pumped in four in a victory that also marked the first time Mohun Bagan scored five goals against their archrivals. Somshuvra Laha reports.
Updated on Oct 26, 2009 01:03 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
Lajong shoot down listless Air India
On Sunday, nothing could have gone wrong for Shillong Lajong FC. Backed by a passionate home crowd exceeding 30,000, the hosts scripted an emphatic 3-0 victory over a sub-par Air India in their fourth round I-League match to claim full points, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on Oct 18, 2009 11:06 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Shillong
Passionate Shillong ready for Lajong’s home debut
‘One team, one passion, one colour.’ That’s how a billboard on the outer fringes of Shillong showcased their pride – Lajong FC, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on Oct 17, 2009 12:14 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Shillong
East Bengal play out goalless draw with JCT, Lajong lose
East Bengal succeeded in not conceding any goal in their third round match against JCT but then they didn’t score either, allowing their opponents return home with a more than satisfactory four points from two matches. Somshuvra Laha reports.
Updated on Oct 12, 2009 12:46 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
Edmilson leads chirag to win over Mumbai FC
Insipid football stood out at the second round I-League match between Chirag United and Mumbai FC but the hosts garnered full points by riding former East Bengal striker Edmilson’s brace to win 2-1, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on Oct 10, 2009 02:14 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
JCT’s turn to stun Bagan
Shocked beyond belief, a red-faced Jose Barreto watched his team retreat to the sidelines from the gallery adjoining the press box as hysterical fans surrounded him, chanting his name feverishly, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on Oct 09, 2009 02:59 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
Churchill create history, bag trophy after 114 years
Finesse ruled. Churchill Brothers won, making it the first time that a Goa club lifted the IFA Shield in the 114-year-old history of the meet. Mohun Bagan, for all their talk of presenting 'organised football' on the eve of the final, fell flat on their face when it came to converting opportunities that came their way, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on Sep 12, 2009 11:19 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
Bagan keen on ending a six-year long drought
The comparison might seem 'far-fetched' but on the eve of the IFA Shield final, Churchill Brothers coach Carlos Pereira admitted they needed to play counter-attacking football, just like Brazil in the ongoing qualifiers of the 2011 World Cup, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on Sep 11, 2009 11:21 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
Mahindra out, Bagan survive
Threatened but not knocked out. That was the summary of the final IFA Shield Group C match that was held up due to unruly crowd behaviour and the Mahindra United goalkeeper being injured by a missile from the stands, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on Sep 06, 2009 11:03 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
Air India, Chirag fly into last four
Conceding seven goals in two games and exiting without a point, this is one IFA Shield East Bengal won’t forget in a hurry. Neither would Tata Football Academy whose victory against East Bengal came to a naught with the red-and-gold brigade losing 2-4 to Chirag United on Saturday, report Somshuvra Laha & Nilankur Das.
Updated on Sep 09, 2009 12:35 AM IST
None | Somshuvra Laha & Nilankur Das, Kolkata
League champions start with a stutter
I-League champions Churchill Brothers got off to an ordinary start in their IFA Shield campaign against Mohammedan Sporting, report Nilankur Das & Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on Sep 02, 2009 11:31 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Nilankur Das & Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
Air India, Sporting win
Not until Izumi Arata’s strike in the 48th minute could Pune FC stand up to their opponents. Despite being pedestrian in the first half, the I-League newcomers however lifted their game in the second only to finish on the wrong side of a 1-2 scoreline, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on Aug 31, 2009 12:33 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
Newcomers Lajong seek top flight experience
“It feels so good to come back to Kolkata,” said Stanley Rozario, supervising 'his boys' stretch on the roof of their hotel. "It's a totally different league of football that the boys will experience this season. And God willing, I'm confident of a good performance." Somshuvra Laha reports.
Updated on Aug 26, 2009 12:50 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
Our first target is to survive relegation, says Salgaocar coach
Finally, there is some American flavour in the I-League. Former Major League Soccer (MLS) coach Tim Hankinson has joined newly-promoted Salgaocar on a one-year deal to help the club survive in the top tier of Indian football.
Updated on Jul 25, 2009 11:56 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
Blades of glory: Revolution beckons
Innovations with the bat are perhaps as old as cricket itself but barring the odd noise, things were just chugging along. Barry Richards playing with a bright orange bat in 1973, Dennis Lillee's had aluminium in 1975, Ricky Ponting's graphite-coated willow or the black bats in the Stanford Series were ripples that didn't really become waves, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on Jul 19, 2009 01:03 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
Wish to end my career at EB: Bhutia
India captain Bhaichung Bhutia today 'signed' a year's contract with East Bengal and vowed to play for the club till he hangs his boot, even as he is yet to be released by Mohun Bagan.
Updated on Jun 22, 2009 11:46 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
Living up to Gilly’s faith pleases Harmeet
Harmeet Singh Bansal’s IPL statistics won’t plead a second glance, especially when you compare them with those of Pragyan Ojha or RP Singh, the Deccan Chargers’ leading wicket-takers. But then, T20 is about getting the basics right, and the instructions to the strapping lad were simple too, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on May 28, 2009 10:44 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
‘Here to match the best’
In its 25th year, Shillong’s Lajong FC general-secretary Larsing Ming Sawyan told HT that qualification for the I-League was not an end in itself.
Updated on May 07, 2009 02:31 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata
Odds on Al Wihdat
Priorities have already been preached but Mohun Bagan will have their task cut out against Al Wihdat in the AFC Cup Group D encounter on Tuesday, reports Somshuvra Laha.
Updated on Mar 16, 2009 11:51 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Somshuvra Laha, Kolkata