In August 2021, Shubman Gill was recovering from an injury to his left leg just before the high-profile five-Test series in England. Mayank Agarwal, the backup opener, was also ruled out of the first match after being struck on the helmet during a net session.
Suddenly, Abhimanyu Easwaran found himself on the verge of making his India debut at Trent Bridge. However, KL Rahul, who hadn’t played a Test in two years and was part of the squad as a reserve wicketkeeper-batter, was chosen to open alongside Rohit Sharma.
Rahul justified the decision with a determined 84, followed by a 129 to earn a spot on the Lord’s honours board. He went on to play all four Tests before the Indian team left early due to a Covid-19 outbreak within the camp.
In December 2022, Rohit Sharma, the captain, was ruled out of the first Test against Bangladesh due to a left thumb injury sustained while fielding in the second ODI. Abhimanyu Easwaran was drafted into the main squad.
With no other specialist opener available in the team—Mayank Agarwal likely having played his final match for India earlier in March—Easwaran, having just scored two centuries in as many games for India A, was on the verge of earning his long-awaited India cap.
India was without a captain, as Virat Kohli had stepped down from the role at the beginning of the year. KL Rahul was called upon once more. He had missed the home series against Sri Lanka and the rescheduled fifth Test against England due to injuries.
Interestingly, his last Test appearance had come in Kohli’s final match as captain. However, none of that mattered as Rahul successfully led India to a 2-0 series win. Meanwhile, Abhimanyu Easwaran’s wait for his chance continued.
“You are bound to feel bad. When you go up the ladder and you reach there, when the opportunity is almost there but doesn’t come, you will feel bad,” Abhimanyu Easwaran says in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda.
The 29-year-old’s patience has been tested time and again
He was set to play his 100th first-class match in the ongoing 2024/25 Ranji Trophy against Bihar, starting October 18. Social media buzzed with congratulatory messages, and there were high hopes for a fifth consecutive century. The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) even honored him on the morning of Day 1. But, as fate would have it, rain and a poor outfield washed out all four days of the match.
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Abhimanyu Easwaran waited 13 days to play his milestone match for India A at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Though his performances were disappointing—7 runs in the first innings and 12 in the second—it was a moment to reflect on his career defined by hard work, resilience, and patience.
As he celebrates his inclusion in India’s squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, it’s important to remember that Easwaran first joined the Indian dressing room nearly four years ago, during the home Test series against England in early 2021. Since then, he has regularly been part of the team’s squad.
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