Abhimanyu Easwaran is featuring in his 118th first-class match, a career that includes 32 appearances for India A since July 2018 and multiple Test squad call-ups, yet an international debut remains elusive. At 31, the Bengal opener insists his ambition to represent India “is still there,” even as he continues to amass runs on the domestic circuit.
Easwaran was included in India’s Test squad for the 2025 tour of England but has since been overlooked, with selectors favoring younger batting options as backup openers. “When I started playing cricket, the dream was always to play for the country, and that dream is still there,” he said after scoring 56 for Bengal against Services in the second round of the Ranji Trophy. “When you’re in the squad and then you get dropped, there are always things that go on in your mind, ‘why not me again?’ So there have been instances [like that], but that’s okay, you get used to it. It happens, it’s part of life. Nothing much to say about it. With time, you learn.”
The right-hander began the current domestic season with two half-centuries for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy, followed by scores of 34 and 34 not out against Delhi in the Ranji Trophy opener. For India A alone, he has accumulated 1,909 runs at an average of 38.18, with six centuries and seven half-centuries across 51 innings.
Easwaran leads the India A charts for both runs and centuries. Among the top ten run-scorers for the side, only he and Priyank Panchal have yet to earn a Test cap. A regular in the India A setup until last year, he was dropped after registering a pair against South Africa A in November 2025 and was also omitted from the Rest of India squad for the Irani Cup against defending Ranji champions Jammu & Kashmir.
“Your job is always to turn up and do well for whatever team you’re playing,” Easwaran said. “The biggest challenge for a player is to just turn up every day and do what the team needs you to do. So I think I’m enjoying it at the moment and I’m enjoying my cricket.”
“The goal is always to play for India but before that, I wanted to play for Bengal, because that is the root, that is the path. I love playing for Bengal. It’s a privilege that I’m playing for Bengal, leading Bengal. So I think to turn up every day, represent this team, play for this logo, it’s a great feeling, it’s very exciting. And obviously, the goal is always to win a tournament. We’ve come very close to winning the Ranji Trophy, so the aim would be to win the Ranji Trophy this season.”
Bengal opened their campaign with a nine-wicket victory over Delhi in Kalyani before traveling to the capital, where Easwaran top-scored with 56 on a challenging, spin-friendly pitch at Palam. The side reached the Ranji Trophy semi-finals last season, falling to eventual champions Jammu & Kashmir.
