Easwaran has yet to receive his Test cap despite earning maiden India call-up in December 2022.
After India’s tour of England ended in August, Abhimanyu Easwaran’s father opened up on his son’s disappointment at being left out of the playing XI for the fifth and final Test at The Oval.
The Bengal opener, who earned his maiden India call-up in December 2022, has yet to receive his Test cap.
Easwaran didn’t get a chance during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy even though there were injury concerns in the Indian camp. With the emergence of Sai Sudharsan, a Test cap looks distant for the 30-year-old, who was left out of the squad for the ongoing home Test series against the West Indies.
In an exclusive chat with Revsportz, Abhimanyu Easwaran admitted that this sort of treatment by the team management 'hurt' him.
"Yes, it does hurt sometimes. You put in all the effort, train hard, and the dream is to be in the middle – to perform, to contribute to wins. But I’m fortunate to have a solid support system: my family, friends, and coach. They help me stay grounded and motivated. Right now, I’m in a good headspace and looking forward to the Ranji season," Easwaran said.
"I try to stay focused on things I can control. Work harder, train better. Yes, it feels bad sometimes, but that's natural. The only solution is to keep improving. I'm working on a couple of new shots this season – I won't reveal which ones (laughs), but hopefully, they'll come off well. Playing for India is the biggest motivation. Even when I play for Bengal, I feel immense pride. So, that itself lifts me up," he added.
Abhimanyu Easwaran scored consistently across domestic tournaments last season, with notable innings of 127*, 191, 116, 157*, 200*, and more. He has 7954 runs in 105 first-class games at an average of 48.50, with 27 centuries.
Considering his age, Easwaran's chances to represent the country don't appear too bright but he is willing to draw inspiration from certain players who made their international debuts post-30.
"I'm a big fan of Michael Hussey. Even before his Australia debut, he was consistently scoring in domestic cricket. His journey shows what perseverance can achieve. Even Suryakumar Yadav made his India debut after 30, and is now leading the team – it's incredible. Players like them are great examples. So yes, it’s always at the back of my mind – "Why not me?" he remarked.