India may or may not change their Playing XI for the last two Test matches against England in Manchester and The Oval. But one thing looks certain: Abhimanyu Easwaran is unlikely to get a chance. The 29-year-old batter has been with the Indian team for nearly three years now. Yet, he is still waiting to play his first Test match.
Easwaran first came into India’s Test squad in 2021 as a standby player during the home series against England. He got his maiden official Test call-up in 2022 for the tour of Bangladesh. Since then, he has travelled with the team many times. But he has only warmed the bench.
‘The player should at least know where he stands’ – WV Raman on Abhimanyu Easwaran
Former India opener and coach WV Raman feels that Easwaran deserves more clarity. He said coach Gautam Gambhir should speak honestly with the player. “If he is not in the plans, there is no point carrying him again and again,” Raman said. “Judgmental calls are part of cricket. But the player should at least know where he stands.”
Easwaran has done well in domestic cricket. He has also performed well for India A and has been part of big series like the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Many fans and experts believed he would finally get his chance after Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket. But KL Rahul’s return as opener blocked that opportunity.
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Some people thought Easwaran could be used at No. 3. But that position was given to Sai Sudharsan in the first Test of the England series. Later, Karan Nair played two back-to-back games, pushing Easwaran further down the pecking order.
This long wait is disappointing. A player who has worked hard and performed well in domestic cricket should not be ignored like this. He deserves at least a few chances to prove himself. If India does not see a future with him, the selectors must be honest and not keep giving false hope.
For now, Easwaran continues to travel with the team; hopeful, patient, but still on the bench.
