Abhimanyu Easwaran's Journey: The IPL Dilemma and His Quest for International Debut

The Struggle for Recognition

In Indian cricket, there are players who excel in domestic competitions yet find it challenging to secure a spot in the national team. Abhimanyu Easwaran exemplifies this situation. Despite being included in the Indian Test squad several times, including for the recent series against Australia, he has yet to make his international debut.

Once again, Easwaran has been selected for the upcoming Test series against England as the third opener. However, he may remain on the sidelines, given that Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul are ahead of him in the selection hierarchy. His father, Ranganathan Easwaran, believes that one significant reason for the delay in Abhimanyu's debut is his lack of participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Impact of IPL Absence

Ranganathan stated, "If Abhimanyu had the opportunity to showcase his talent in the IPL, he could have debuted for India much earlier. The tournament provides invaluable exposure to players. Abhimanyu is not one to celebrate excessively after scoring centuries, which might be working against him."

He emphasized his son's impressive statistics, noting that Easwaran has accumulated 7,674 runs in 101 first-class matches with an average of 48.87. His experience playing in various conditions, including New Zealand, Australia, England, and the West Indies, gives him an advantage over other candidates.

Dedication to Preparation

Ranganathan also shared details about his son's rigorous training regimen in preparation for the England series. "Abhimanyu wakes up at 5:30 AM and practices for hours, facing fast bowlers with the red Dukes ball used in England. We have procured around two dozen Dukes balls to replicate match conditions. He trains on a green pitch with red soil, which provides extra bounce and closely resembles English surfaces," he explained.

A Resilient Mindset

Instead of allowing repeated non-selection to deter him, Easwaran is channeling it into motivation. His father shared his son's perspective: "Abhimanyu believes that each time he is overlooked, it fuels his determination. He aims not just to knock on the door but to break it down. No one should have the power to crush his dreams so easily."