Gautam Gambhir gives straightforward answer to Abhimanyu Easwaran on his Test debut
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s Test retirements opened the space for two new batters in India’s batting unit for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Many people reckoned that Abhimanyu Easwaran would finally make his Test debut. However, the management opted for the likes of Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan ahead of him. The duo had a below-par series with the bat, scoring one half-century each. Abhimanyu’s father was dejected after his son, once again, was overlooked despite the number three slot available in the batting unit. He believed that Abhimanyu should have gotten the chance to bat at three ahead of Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair.
“He should have played one down. No ill feelings for Sai Sudharsan. Please understand he’s known to me, all of them are known to me. But the question is which place, means it's one down. Where does he fit in? You tell me 0, 31, 0, 61. They could have tried Abhimanyu, who has played about 30% of the matches on Eden Garden, which is a green track. He’s got experience on playing on green wicket. And the record suggest Abhimanyu is the player who holds on the innings for a long time,” he said in an interview with Vickey Lalwani on his YouTube channel.
Abhimanyu’s father also revealed the conversation between his son and head coach Gautam Gambhir regarding his Test debut. He said that Gambhir has assured Easwaran that his chance will come. The head coach has told him that he is doing all the right things, and he will be given a longer rope upon receiving his debut Test cap.
"Gautam Gambhir, when he spoke to my son, he assured him see you you're doing the right kind of things you'll get your turn you'll get a long run. I'm not the one who will push you out after one or two matches. I'll give you a long rope. That's what my son communicated to me. The entire coaching team assured him that he'll get his due, he'll get his long run. That's the best I can say. My son is waiting for 4 years, He's put in 23 years of hard work," Ranganathan Easwaran said in an interview with Vickey Lalwani on his YouTube channel.
Abhimanyu Easwaran made his first-class debut on 14th December 2013
Abhimanyu Easwaran has established himself as a key player in India’s domestic cricket circuit. He made his debut in the clash between Uttar Pradesh and Bengal on 14th December 2013. He has been around for over a decade now and has piled up 7841 runs in 103 first-class matches at an average of 48.70, including 27 centuries and 31 half-centuries. He was first picked for India’s Test squad in August 2019 as a standby batter for the West Indies tour. Abhimanyu has been part of many Test series but hasn’t been able to make it into India’s Test playing XI.
