Abhimanyu Easwaran 'not shattered' despite being overlooked, father says 'Gautam Gambhir assured you'll get a long run'

Abhimanyu Easwaran 'pissed' after being overlooked (PTI Photo)

A strange fact had emerged when India handed debut to Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. A total of 15 players have earned their maiden Test cap since Abhimanyu Easwaran was first selected in India's red-ball setup but the wait continues for the domestic stalwart. The batter was picked in the national team for the first time in 2021, when India toured England during the bio-bubble phase of cricket in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. Circa 2025, and India have completed yet another tour of England again for a five-Test series.

While this can be frustrating for a cricketer, Easwaran remains unshaken and is now focused at his next red-ball assignment, which is the Duleep Trophy starting from August 28.

His father Ranganathan Parameshwaran Easwaran during a conversation with Vickey Lalwani on his YouTube channel said that his son was expecting to make a debut in the fifth and final Test at Oval, which was not the case.

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Ranganathan said: "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.'"

Ranganathan added: "He was pissed off because he wasn’t picked. When I called him, he said, ‘Dad, I still haven’t found a place.’"

Gautam Gambhir's assurance

While the cricketer is yet to play a match, his father did reveal that when he does, he will get a longer run, something which has been assured to Easwaran by the head coach Gautam Gambhir.

"Gautam Gambhir, when he spoke to my son, he assured him see you 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 is waiting for 4 years, He's put in 23 years of hard work," said Ranganathan.