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Consistency Is Not Enough: Abhimanyu Easwaran Waits While The Game Moves On

Rajgeeta Yadav

Abhimanyu Easwaran [Source: @VibhuBhola/X.com]Abhimanyu Easwaran [Source: @VibhuBhola/X.com]

“Four years. Three team managements. Zero caps. In a system that rewards flash and flair, what more must consistency do to be seen?”

In a country overflowing with talent but short on patience, Abhimanyu Easwaran’s story stands apart. As India’s cricketing conveyor belt churns out debutants season after season, Easwaran has done the one thing few notice anymore, he kept waiting. Not for applause. Just for a chance.

He has donned the India ‘A’ cap, captained the side against the England Lions, and delivered consistently for Bengal season after season. He’s travelled as a standby on multiple international tours, shared dressing rooms with full internationals, and faced world-class bowlers in the nets. 

But the one thing that still eludes Abhimanyu Easwaran is the cap that truly matters, the baggy blue that signifies arrival at the highest level.

Easwaran, born in Dehradun and playing for Bengal, has quietly compiled a mountain of red-ball numbers. With 7,841 first-class runs at an average of 48.70, including 27 centuries, his record is as good as any opener waiting in the wings.

His game is built on the kind of qualities that once defined Indian Test cricket, patience and temperament. In an era where strokeplay often overshadows grit, Easwaran offers what India still desperately needs: a reliable opener who can wear down attacks, not just counter them with flair.

Despite his stunning numbers, Easwaran has constantly found himself just outside the playing XI. He’s been part of squads for tours to Bangladesh, South Africa, and England. When injuries hit, he’s flown in as cover. Yet, when push comes to shove, the nod has almost always gone to someone else, someone younger, flashier, or more talked-about.

In early 2024, when KL Rahul was ruled out of the England Test series, many thought Easwaran’s time had come. 

Instead, Yashasvi Jaiswal took the spot and made it his own. Later, with Karun Nair struggling on return, India turned to Sai Sudharsan, giving the 23-year-old a debut at Leeds. His performances were modest, and yet he was picked again for the fourth Test, again, not Easwaran.

Fifteen Debuts, Still Waiting

In the past four years, 15 players have debuted for India in Tests, including Devdutt Padikkal, Sarfaraz Khan, Akash Deep, and most recently Anshul Kamboj, who made his debut in the fourth Test at Manchester. Karun Nair returned after eight years. Kamboj earned his cap after one strong Ranji season.

Why not Easwaran? He’s never been given a chance to fail. And that, in itself, raises a question: Is this a matter of perception over performance?

A Mental Battle Beyond The Game

Easwaran’s greatest challenge hasn’t been on the pitch. It’s been in the background, staying ready without reward, watching peers get their chances while he remains the reserve.

And yet, there’s been no complaint. No media outbursts. No social media jabs. Just more runs.

It’s this mental strength, this resilience in silence, that makes his story different. Perhaps even more powerful than most.

Does Easwaran Still Fit India’s Future?

As India transition under Shubman Gill’s Test captaincy, and with some veterans stepping away from the format, the team will need an opener who can handle the grind of away tours, especially in places like South Africa, England, and Australia, where shot-making alone won’t cut it.

Gill is moving into the middle order. Jaiswal has locked one spot. Is there room for an old-school opener at the other end? Easwaran fits the bill. And at 29, he still has time on his side.

Abhimanyu Easwaran may not be the most marketable name in Indian cricket. But he is, without question, one of the most deserving.

He doesn’t need special treatment. He doesn’t want sympathy. He just wants an opportunity to walk through the same door others have been allowed to enter. Because if Indian cricket still believes in rewarding the grind, the wait for the baggy blue shouldn’t last much longer.