Abhimanyu Easwaran recorded his 100th First-Class appearance as he represented India A against Australia A in the first unofficial Test at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, Queensland on Thursday.
The 29-year-old Bengal opener was all set to make his historic debut last week in Kolkata with his Ranji Trophy team ahead of the match against Bihar after being bowled out for the entire four days. Easwaran, however, has been on an incredible red-ball batting streak this year, which coincided with a call-up to India’s 18-member squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last week.
Easwaran has a chance to run in the starting XI, if India captain Rohit Sharma misses the five Tests against Australia due to personal reasons.
India Veteran
Easwaran has been one of the most active batsmen in the India A circuit, having played 26 matches for the second string team in 26 matches. Only the current coach of the India A team, Gautam Gambhir, has scored more runs (2119) and hundreds (8) than Easwaran in the India A team. -1662 with a team average of 42.61.
Easwaran’s 2024 season
While Easwaran featured in just two Ranji Trophy matches last season, his scoring form has continued consistently ever since. Easwaran hit a pair of doubles against Kerala before completing his 2023-24 season with a double hundred against Bihar last February. He opened the 2024-25 season in September with two hundreds in three Duleep Trophy matches before amassing 191 against Mumbai in the Irani Cup earlier this month. Easwaran also brought up his 15th Ranji Trophy century against Uttar Pradesh in the first round this season.
In all, Easwaran’s mighty First-Class record stands at 7638 runs at an impressive average of 49.92. He was close to winning the title for India when he was drafted in as Rohit’s replacement for India’s tour to Bangladesh in 2021. Easwaran was again arrested during India’s 2021 tour of England, but did not get a game.