Bengaluru: The case of Abhimanyu Easwaran remains intriguing as the seasoned batter, who has accumulated over 8,000 runs in first-class cricket, is yet to earn his India cap. As he approaches 30, the prospect of making his debut appears to be diminishing. Easwaran has been accompanying the Indian Test team as a backup opener for several years but has yet to feature in a match. His recent performance, which saw him score two ducks in the second unofficial Test against South Africa A at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, has further complicated his chances.
Despite an unbeaten half-century against Uttarakhand in the opening match of the Ranji Trophy, Easwaran has failed to impress selectors, limiting his opportunities. With players such as Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal currently favored in the batting order, Easwaran’s chances of being called up seem increasingly slim.
Easwaran has long been a reliable performer in the Ranji Trophy, but critical moments have often seen him falter. Although he had relatively strong performances of 80 and 68 for India A against the England Lions prior to the Test series, his subsequent scores of 0, 17, 7, and 12 before the Australia Tests may have impacted selectors’ perceptions negatively.
As younger players like Dhruv Jurel push for a Test spot, and with Sudharsan being considered as a backup opener, the likelihood of Easwaran receiving an opportunity appears to be waning. His absence from the playing XI, particularly in England where Sudharsan and Karun Nair found opportunities, raises questions about his future.
While it may be unfortunate if Easwaran does not play in any Test matches, his recent performances, particularly the two ducks in South Africa A, highlight the competitive nature of the squad. In the ongoing match, India demonstrated resilience by bowling South Africa A out for 221, gaining a 34-run lead, before ending Day 2 with a score of 78 for the loss of three wickets in their second innings.
