Abhimanyu Easwaran, a consistent India A opener, is still chasing his elusive Test debut despite years of service. He first represented India A in July 2018. Since then, he has played 30 first-class matches for the side. KS Bharat comes next with 21 matches, but Easwaran still waits for his India Test cap.
He has been named in five Test squads, including the one in England earlier this year. Yet, the call to walk out for India has never come. Now, at 30, he returns to India A for two four-day games against Australia A. The grind continues, but the motivation remains.
India A coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar praised Easwaran’s mindset ahead of the matches.
“Abhimanyu is an experienced player. He has captained Bengal and played a lot of cricket at the higher level. So there isn’t much need to say a lot to him because he knows how cricket is played.”
“It was not a big challenge to talk to him because he is already prepared. He knows what to do if opportunities don’t come. One good thing is that he stays very motivated to challenge himself, push himself, perform well. And if he gets a chance at the higher level, do well there too. He is mentally very strong, prepared, and is also playing well.”
“He is batting well. He is in good form and in good touch. He is a very, very good player who has done it [for India A] many times. So I think he is ready for the challenge now. He is in a good place right now in terms of batting and the way managing his cricket.”
Lucknow Brings Good Memories
Lucknow has been a lucky venue for Abhimanyu Easwaran. He has played three first-class matches there and scored a century each time. He averages 117.75 in the city, with 471 runs in five innings.
Last year, he hammered 191 for Rest of India against Mumbai in the Irani Cup at Lucknow. Only ten days later, he scored an unbeaten 127 for Bengal against Uttar Pradesh at the same ground. That strong run earned him a call-up to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad.
Waiting For His Test Breakthrough
No player in India has possibly waited longer on the Test fringes. Abhimanyu Easwaran continues to open for India A, anchoring innings with calm and responsibility. The upcoming home series against West Indies may finally offer him the chance he has been working toward.
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