ENG v IND 2025: Abhimanyu Easwaran was ‘pissed off’ after Oval Test snub, reveals father; says chat with Gambhir calmed him

Abhimanyu Easwaran warmed the bench throughout the five-Test series.

Abhimanyu Easwaran’s father has revealed his son’s rage at being left out of the Indian XI for the fifth and final Test against England at the Oval. Easwaran, who has been with the Indian team as a backup opener since 2022, is yet to make his international debut.

Despite impressing in the two India A games preceding the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Easwaran couldn’t break into the Indian XI, amidst all the injuries in the contingent. India had a genuine chance to avert a series loss in London after the fourth Test draw in Manchester, which led the team management to consider other lineup options.

To his intense annoyance, however, Easwaran was turned down once more. "I was 'pissed off,'" his father, Ranganathan Parameshwaran Easwaran, said in an interview with Vickey Lalwani on his YouTube channel. However, just for a brief period.

Speaking about their phone conversation following the final test snub, Ranganathan claimed his son refused to let the setback ruin his long-term goal and immediately turned his attention to the Duleep Trophy.

"My son will fly to Bengaluru to prepare for the Duleep Trophy. He'll spend 10-12 days there, return to Dehradun for a few days, and then head back. He was disturbed after not being picked for the fifth test—he was expecting that call. I told him, 'Son, you have lived your dream.' He replied, 'I understand. I've lived my dream for 23 years, and not getting picked for one or two matches won’t shatter that.

He was pissed off because he wasn’t picked. When I called him, he said, ‘Dad, I still haven’t found a place.’" Easwaran’s father told Vicky Lalwani on his YouTube channel.

Ranganathan further disclosed that his son's conversations with head coach Gautam Gambhir have kept him motivated despite the disappointment of not being chosen in England.

When Easwaran made his debut, he would be given a longer rope and not be evaluated based just on one or two games, the head coach of India promised.

"Gautam Gambhir, when he spoke to my son, he assured him, 'See, 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 has been waiting for 4 years. He's put in 23 years of hard work," Ranganathan added.

Abhimanyu Easwaran will now play in the Duleep Trophy.