Abhimanyu Easwaran’s case continues to puzzle many in Indian cricket. He has dominated domestic cricket for Bengal for years. He has piled up runs in the Ranji Trophy with ease. Despite this, he has not found a place in India’s Test playing XI. Different team managements have called him up in squads, but each time they picked someone else when an opening appeared.

So far, Easwaran has played 109 first-class matches. He has scored 8,136 runs at a strong average of 47.85. These numbers reflect his consistency and class over a long period.

IPL absence seen as a setback

Easwaran, now 30, has never featured in the Indian Premier League. He is also not a big name in white-ball cricket. Because of this, many believe the selectors have overlooked him. In recent years, the trend has shifted towards picking white-ball stars for even the Test format. This may have worked against him.

As others got selected on reputation and visibility, Easwaran kept doing his job in domestic cricket without receiving a proper opportunity.

A powerful T20 statement

It now looks like Easwaran has decided to make his presence felt in the shortest format too. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Punjab, he smashed a stunning 130 off just 66 balls. Although Bengal did not win the match, his explosive innings caught attention across the cricketing world.

That knock became a talking point, especially because it broke the idea that he could only perform in longer formats.

Ashwin’s sharp comment

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin referred to the innings and made a pointed comment about the selectors. Taking an indirect dig at chairman Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir, Ashwin said Easwaran’s T20 hundred should now guarantee him a Test chance.

“Abhimanyu Easwaran scored a hundred in T20 also now. Now we can get to see him for sure now. Given that he has now scored runs in T20, for sure we will get to see him in the Test team now,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.

His statement reflected the frustration many fans and experts feel over Easwaran’s continued exclusion.

Missed chance even after Kohli and Rohit’s exit

Even after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket, Easwaran did not get picked for the playing XI against England. This decision raised more questions. The players chosen instead, such as Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair, did not make a big impact either. Many believe Easwaran deserved that opportunity.

However, one issue that keeps getting mentioned is his average performance in India A matches. Critics point out that he has not fully dominated at that level, which may have made selectors hesitant.

Easwaran’s honest words

Earlier this year, Easwaran openly spoke about how painful the situation has been for him. Still, he showed maturity and balance in his response.

"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," he told Revsportz in October.

His words showed his disappointment, but also his determination to keep working and stay positive.