‘Abhimanyu Easwaran should eye No.3 spot’- Sourav Ganguly feels age is on Bengal batter’s side

15 players have debuted since Abhimanyu Easwaran’s first India test call-up in 2022.

With the boys turning into men at a transitional period in the nation’s longest format of the game, India‘s five-match test series against England may have signaled the start of a new era in Indian cricket.

Only three players—Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Abhimanyu Easwaran—did not get an opportunity to make the playing XI during the one-and-a-half-month tour, in a series where practically everyone stepped up when called upon.

Since receiving his first call-up to the national team in 2021–2022, Abhimanyu Easwaran, 29, has continued to play the role of bridesmaid, prolonging his regrettable wait to pad up for the national team.

Since Easwaran has been traveling with the India team as a reserve player, about 15 players, including KS Bharat, Suryakumar Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and others, have made their debut for India.

However, despite making a lot of runs for both the Bengal and India “A” teams, he has continued to warm the bench.

Age is on his side—Sourav Ganguly says Abhimanyu Easwaran shouldn’t lose hope

Many thought that Abhimanyu Easwaran would get his chance when Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s retirements were announced. However, Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan have leapfrogged him for the no. 3 spot in the India XI.

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly also feels that not everything is over for Easwaran.

“He has age on his side. I still believe he will get his chance. I feel batters like Yashasvi (Jaiswal), KL Rahul, (Shubman) Gill, (Rishabh) Pant, and (Ravindra) Jadeja have all got runs. It’s only the No. 3 slot that looked a bit fragile. Maybe Easwaran will be tried out there,” Ganguly was quoted by the Times of India.

Former Bengal coach Arun Lal, who has seen Easwaran from close quarters, advised the opener to keep his chin up.

“He (Easwaran) is a team man, a great fielder, his fitness levels are very high, and his work ethic is as good as any other in the country,” Lal stated.

Abhimanyu Easwaran has been named the vice-captain of the East Zone team for the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025. He will fly down to Bengaluru to get ready for the tournament. If chosen, Easwaran will undoubtedly not look back and will try his hardest to secure a spot in the team for the two-match home test series against the West Indies in October.

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