Abhimanyu Easwaran’s father, Ranganathan Parameshwaran Easwaran, has alleged that the lack of an IPL profile cost his son a Test debut despite being groomed as Cheteshwar Pujara’s replacement by India’s coaching staff. Easwaran’s promising performances, including a century on the India A tour of South Africa in November 2021, had positioned him as the potential heir to Pujara’s No. 3 spot, but the young opener has yet to make his senior Test debut.
Easwaran’s father revealed in a YouTube interview that both former coach Ravi Shastri and current coach Rahul Dravid had identified his son as the replacement for Pujara long before Pujara’s possible exit. During the India A tour, Easwaran batted at No. 3 — the same position Cheteshwar Pujara had held for years — and scored 103 runs in the first unofficial Test against South Africa, followed by 55 in the second.
Abhimanyu Easwaran Groomed for Pujara’s Role But Overlooked
Despite these impressive performances, Easwaran was overlooked for the senior Test squad’s tour of South Africa. His father alleged that the lack of an IPL profile and the absence of a recent major tournament performance worked against his son’s chances of selection. “The talent scouts had nothing recent to show on paper,” he said. “And this perception, along with the absence of an IPL record in my son’s profile, is what I feel became a basic impediment to his India selection.”
Easwaran did receive two call-ups as a standby player in 2021, first for the home Test series against England and then for the World Test Championship final against New Zealand. However, it wasn’t until 2022 that he was officially included in the senior Test squad for the Bangladesh series. Since then, he has been a regular part of the Test setup but has yet to make his debut in the playing XI.
IPL Bias Alleged to Have Impacted Test Opportunities
The father’s comments reflect a growing concern among some domestic players about the preference given to IPL players for national selection. While IPL has become a key platform for players to showcase their skills, Easwaran’s father believes the lack of IPL exposure has held his son back despite consistent performances in domestic cricket. Easwaran’s continued inclusion as a backup batter for the national team raises questions about the selection process and the weight placed on IPL experience.
Abhimanyu Easwaran’s case highlights the challenges faced by players with limited IPL exposure, despite strong domestic records and coaching staff endorsements. As Easwaran continues to wait for his opportunity, questions linger about the role IPL plays in the selection of players for India’s prestigious Test side.
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