Abhimanyu Easwaran Scores 191: Ignored Talent Shines Again in Irani Cup

Abhimanyu Easwaran is a synonym for consistency in Indian domestic cricket. The last seven innings where he scored three centuries, will rightly justify the adjective. In the ongoing Irani Cup, he scored 191 runs in 292 balls while chasing Mumbai's mammoth total of 537 runs.

Easwaran reached the score, smashing 16 boundaries and an over-boundary. He missed out on a well-deserved double-century by just nine runs. Keeping this talent aside, this inning was a testament to his resilience and responsibility towards his team. With that score, he single-handedly carried the rest of India on his shoulders.

However, his track record never seemed impressive to the selectors. Even though he got a call from the test team, the cap remained elusive to the Bengal opener.

Back in 2022, he travelled with the senior test team, as a replacement for Rohit Sharma. But with likes of heavy names like Virat Kohli and Chesteswar Pujara, Easwaran maintained a safe and unfortunate distance with his debut cap. Even though he was a standby for the team, questions still prevail! How does that even justify the tons of runs he accumulated in first-class cricket?

Domestic cricket is considered the initial stage for international cricket. Easwaran has 26 first-class centuries to his name, with an average of over 48, which justifies the confusion regarding his being ignored.

Consistency. The other name for Easwaran

Easwaran is a steady figure in domestic cricket when the topic is about consistency. He came into the limelight in 2018-19, where he scored over 800 runs in the Ranji Trophy He had a remarkable average of 95 and was expectedly the top performer for Bengal.

Easwaran's hunger for runs had given him the crown of top run-scorer in domestic cricket! He concluded the Duleep Trophy, with a massive  309 runs at an average of 77.25, being the second-highest scorer of the tournament.

He has been the blind stick for his team in many challenging situations! And his recent knock against Mumbai holds the biggest spectacle of his sense of responsibility.

Easwaran added 165 runs for the fifth wicket, with Dhruv Jurel trying to give his team a respectable position against Mumbai.  Such performances, when it should have been the main reason to get him a spot, fell short of doing so!

A Denied Test Debut

What if someone questions Easwaran's absence from the senior team? His bat is rightly saying his words. Even though he is unlikely to be vocal, fans are. 

His Irani Cup performances have sparked the rage amongst the fans. Him, standing behind giants like Virat Kohli and Pujara, even though looks reasonable to selectors, but not to his fans.

However, when it comes to sharing the statistical lineup with the seniors, he is second in line. With 26 test centuries, Easwaran is behind Pujara.

Most hundreds in first-class cricket since Abhimanyu Easwaran's debut (among Indians)  
40: Cheteshwar Pujara 
26. Abhimanyu Easwaran 
25: Virat Kohli 
25. Priyank Panchal 
23. Hanuma Vihari

The Future Call

Even the most shining star gets overshadowed in front of popularity and fandom. A country that can't deny the rigorous competition in the cricket circumference, is giving a tough fight to Easwaran!

One may say, he is knocking on the door, the other one may counter, but the knock isn't audible to the sectors!

But, hopefully, Easwaran won't stop. His name, like the one in the mythologies, will fight till his end, challenging the attitude of the decision-makers!

Easwaran left the field heartbroken for missing the double ton. His anger was expressed as he smashed his bat on the ground. 

The fans are waiting for him to raise the bat with pride in international cricket, and hopefully, Abhimanyu Easwaran won't disappoint them.