Cricket

Ruturaj Gaikwad, the prolific opener, is poised to lead India A on their upcoming tour of Australia later this month. The 15-man squad will feature a host of talented players, including Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan, and Devdutt Padikkal, who are all vying for a spot in the Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.With Rohit Sharma expected to miss the first two matches of the Test series due to personal reasons, India will need to name a reserve opener. The matches against Australia A will provide an opportunity for Easwaran and Sudharsan to showcase their skills and stake their claim for a place in the Test squad.Easwaran, 29, has been in exceptional form this domestic season, scoring two centuries in the Duleep Trophy, another century in the Irani Trophy, and a ton for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy. Sudharsan, 23, has also impressed with a first-class hundred for English county Surrey, a century in the Duleep Trophy, and a double-hundred in Tamil Nadu's ongoing Ranji Trophy match.The middle-order of the India A squad will be bolstered by Padikkal, B Indrajith, and Ricky Bhui, while Abishek Porel and Ishan Kishan will share wicket-keeping duties. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tanush Kotian, and Manav Suthar will provide all-round options, and the pace attack will be led by Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed, and Yash Dayal.Reddy, 21, has recently recovered from a hernia and made his T20I debut for India against Bangladesh earlier this month. He is seen as a promising all-rounder who could benefit from more experience and exposure.India A will play Australia A in two four-day matches in Mackay from October 31 and in Melbourne from November 7. They will then face the India squad in a warm-up match in Perth between November 15 and 17 before the first Test against Australia begins on November 22.

Bengal opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, on the cusp of a significant milestone in his cricketing career, expressed gratitude and determination as he prepared to play his 100th First Class match.Easwaran, who has been a consistent performer for Bengal, reflected on his 11-year journey in the sport. He acknowledged the support of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) for providing him with the platform to showcase his talent."It's a long journey," Easwaran said. "I thanked the association in my acceptance speech. The CAB gave me a chance to play First Class cricket. It feels good that I am playing my 100th match."The 29-year-old batsman, who has come close to earning the India cap on multiple occasions, has scored four centuries in the 2024-25 season. Despite his impressive performances, Easwaran remains focused on his primary goal of piling on runs."It will happen when it has to happen," he said. "You keep on doing your job. I am only thinking about the Bihar match. We got a good start to the season. My focus is only on the Ranji Trophy."Easwaran has accumulated 7638 runs in 99 matches at an average of 49.92 before the match against Bihar. His consistent performances have earned him recognition as one of the most promising batsmen in the country.However, the Bengal opener remains grounded and continues to work hard to improve his game. He believes that his journey has been filled with valuable lessons and experiences."It makes me feel special," Easwaran said. "It was not my dream to play 100 matches. My aim was to play for India. It's still the same dream. It was good to enjoy the journey. I have learnt a lot. I have made a lot of friends. I have a lot of memories."As Easwaran prepares to step onto the field for his 100th First Class match, he carries with him the hopes and aspirations of his team and the Bengal cricket fraternity. His determination and unwavering focus on his goals make him a role model for aspiring cricketers across the country.

Abhimanyu Easwaran, Bengal's prolific opening batsman, continues to impress with his consistent performances, raising questions about his absence from the Indian national team. In the recent Ranji Trophy match against Uttar Pradesh, Easwaran hammered a century (127), his fourth in the last nine innings. This followed his two centuries in the Duleep Trophy and a superb 191 in the Irani Cup against Mumbai.Easwaran's impressive run of form has seen him score 7,638 runs in 99 first-class matches at an average of 49.92, including 27 centuries. Despite his stellar performances, he has yet to receive a call-up to the national team.In an interview with TOI, Easwaran expressed his desire to make a fresh start this season after an injury-hit campaign last year. He praised the sporting pitch at Ekana Stadium, where he scored two centuries in the last 15 days.Easwaran also discussed his aggressive approach in the second innings against Uttar Pradesh, which he attributed to the need to put up a decent score. He highlighted the importance of being proactive on challenging wickets.Reflecting on his cricketing journey, Easwaran credited his father's passion for the game as his inspiration. He also acknowledged the valuable lessons he learned during his time with India A, where he played alongside international cricketers.Easwaran emphasized that his focus remains on performing for his team and that the decision of whether or not to call him up to the national team rests with the selectors. He expressed his gratitude for being part of the Indian team environment during the 2021 England tour, where he gained valuable insights from senior cricketers.

Bengal's openers, Sudip Chatterjee and Abhimanyu Easwaran, put the team in a commanding position in their Ranji Trophy Group A clash against Uttar Pradesh. After Bengal gained a 19-run first-innings lead, Chatterjee and Easwaran capitalized on the momentum, guiding their side to a comfortable 141 for no loss at the end of Day 3.Chatterjee, who scored a gritty 116 in Bengal's first innings, continued his impressive form with an unbeaten 59. The left-hander displayed resilience and technique, particularly under fading light conditions. Easwaran, who had struggled in the first innings, returned to form with an unbeaten 78. The stylish right-hander, who has been in contention for a reserve opener spot for India's tour of Australia, played with patience and composure, hitting seven well-timed boundaries.Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh resumed their innings at 206/3, looking to overhaul Bengal's total of 311. However, Bengal's India pacer Mukesh Kumar bowled a fiery spell, triggering a collapse as UP lost seven wickets for just 94. Kumar finished with figures of 4/43, while Shahbaz Ahmed claimed 4/96.The only resistance for UP came from Siddarth Yadav, who played a fighting knock of 73 off 127 balls. Yadav launched a counter-attack, smashing three sixes and six boundaries to help UP cross the 250-mark and reduce Bengal's first-innings lead.With Bengal holding a 160-run lead and a full day's play remaining, they are in a strong position to secure a victory. The match will resume on Monday, with Bengal looking to extend their lead and put pressure on Uttar Pradesh.

Abhimanyu Easwaran, a prolific run-scorer for Bengal in domestic cricket, has been patiently awaiting his Test debut for India. Despite an impressive record of 7506 runs in 98 first-class games at an average of 47.65, the elusive Test cap remains out of reach.As the Ranji Trophy approaches, India's search for a back-up opener for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy intensifies. Easwaran remains determined to earn his place, focusing on controlling the controllables. "I try and focus on one day at a time. The dream has always been to play for the country," he says.Easwaran's recent performances in the Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup have showcased his talent. He scored 157 not out, 116, and 19 in the Duleep Trophy, followed by a remarkable 191 in the Irani Cup against Mumbai.Despite his impressive performances, Easwaran acknowledges that selection is beyond his control. "I can just control the things which I have in control – that is how hard I work, look forward to the games, and prepare for it," he says.Easwaran has gained valuable experience as part of the Indian Test team, including the historic victory over England at Lord's in 2021. He has observed the meticulous preparation of senior batters like Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, learning from their specific game plans and practice routines.The 'A' tours have played a crucial role in India's Test success, providing players with exposure to international cricket and overseas conditions. Easwaran believes these tours are a "great bridge between domestic cricket and international cricket."Easwaran fondly recalls his century against England Lions in 2019, where he partnered with KL Rahul. He also praises the aggressive intent displayed by the Indian team in the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur, where they chased down 95 on day five to secure a remarkable victory.Easwaran believes that Test cricket remains vital, especially with the World Test Championship points at stake. "Every Test match is more like a World Cup game," he says. "Red-ball cricket will keep going like this and a lot of people will keep watching it, I'm sure."

Rest of India (RoI) batter Abhimanyu Easwaran narrowly missed out on a double century on Day 4 of the Irani Cup final against Mumbai in Lucknow. Easwaran's dismissal on 191 runs off 292 balls, including one six and 16 fours, left him visibly frustrated.The incident occurred in the 103rd over of RoI's innings, bowled by Shams Mulani. Easwaran attempted to sweep a flighted delivery outside leg, but the ball ballooned off the top edge and was easily caught by Tanush Kotian at short leg.Easwaran's anger stemmed from his shot selection, as he was just nine runs short of his double century. His innings was a testament to his resilience and determination, as he anchored RoI's response to Mumbai's first-innings total of 537.In response, RoI showed great resistance, reaching 416 thanks largely to Easwaran's contribution. India star Dhruv Jurel also made a significant contribution with an impressive 93, while the rest of the RoI batters struggled to make an impact.On Day 3, RoI made quick work of Mumbai's innings, with Mukesh Kumar dismissing Mohammed Juned to end the innings at 537. Sarfaraz Khan remained unbeaten on 222 off 286 balls, with 25 fours and four sixes. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane (97 off 234 balls, with seven fours and a six) and Shreyas Iyer (57 off 84 balls, with six fours and two sixes) had stabilized the innings after Mumbai was reduced to 37/3.Tanush Kotian (64 off 124 balls, with six fours) and Shardul Thakur (36 off 59 balls, with four boundaries and a six) also made valuable contributions. Mukesh (5/110) was the top bowler for RoI, while Yash Dayal and Prasidh Krishna took two wickets each. Saransh Jain claimed one scalp.

The Irani Cup's fourth day witnessed a dramatic turn of events as Mumbai extended their lead over Rest of India, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.Resuming their overnight partnership, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Dhruv Jurel looked poised to challenge Mumbai's imposing first-innings total of 537. However, Shams Mulani's incisive bowling proved too much for the duo. In quick succession, Mulani dismissed Jurel (93) and Easwaran (191), extinguishing Rest of India's hopes of a substantial lead.With the fifth wicket falling, Rest of India's batting collapsed, losing their remaining wickets for just 23 runs. Tanush Kotian and Mulani shared the spoils, claiming three wickets each. Mumbai's lead swelled to a comfortable 121 runs.In their second innings, Mumbai's batting was anchored by Prithvi Shaw. Despite losing wickets at the other end, Shaw remained unfazed, scoring a fluent 76 off 105 deliveries. His innings included eight boundaries and a six.Saransh Jain and Manav Suthar provided the breakthroughs for Rest of India, claiming four and two wickets respectively. However, Mumbai's lead had already reached 274 runs by the end of the day's play.Rest of India face an uphill task on the fifth morning. They must quickly dismiss the remaining Mumbai batters and set themselves a manageable target. However, the presence of spinners in the game suggests that the chase could be a daunting one. Mumbai, on the other hand, will be confident of wrapping up the match and securing victory.

Abhimanyu Easwaran, the talented right-handed batsman from Bengal, has strengthened his case for a Test debut with a magnificent century for Rest of India against Mumbai in the Irani Cup. Easwaran, who replaced Ruturaj Gaikwad in India's squad for the two-match Test series against South Africa last year, has been consistently performing at the domestic level.Easwaran's century, which came off 117 balls, is his third in as many games. He scored two centuries in the recently concluded Duleep Trophy. The 29-year-old has been among the top run-getters for Bengal in the domestic circuit, with his breakthrough season coming in 2018-19 when he scored over 800 runs in the Ranji Trophy.Easwaran's forte is red-ball cricket, but he has also been a steady performer in List A cricket. He has represented India A in multiple tours, showcasing his potential to break into the Indian national team. He was named in the standby list for India's Test squad during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 against Australia and was part of the squad for the England Test series in 2021 and 2022.With India set to tour Australia later this year, the management will likely include a third opener in the squad. Easwaran's recent performances have put him in contention for that role. He faces competition from Ruturaj Gaikwad, Mayank Agarwal, and Sai Sudharsan, but his consistent run-scoring has given him an edge.Easwaran's century against Mumbai has further strengthened his case for a Test debut. He has shown that he has the temperament and the skills to succeed at the highest level. If he continues to perform at this level, he could soon be donning the Indian whites.

On the second day of the Duleep Trophy final round robin league match, India D established a commanding position over India B, thanks to Sanju Samson's century and Arshdeep Singh's impressive bowling performance.India D resumed their first innings at 306 for 5, with Samson continuing his impressive form. The talented batsman reached his 11th first-class hundred, scoring 106 off 101 deliveries, including 12 boundaries and three sixes. However, India D's innings ended shortly after Samson's milestone, with the last five wickets falling for 43 runs. Delhi speedster Navdeep Saini was the wrecker-in-chief, claiming 5 for 74 in 18.3 overs.In response, India B began their innings cautiously, with skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran leading the charge. Easwaran, who had scored a century in the previous game, notched up his 25th first-class hundred, a 170-ball knock adorned with 13 fours and a six. However, India B's progress was halted by Arshdeep Singh, who returned for his second spell with a slightly older SG Test ball.Arshdeep struck twice in quick succession, dismissing Musheer Khan and Nitish Reddy cheaply. He then accounted for the prized wicket of Suryakumar Yadav, who had been eagerly anticipated by the crowd. With India B reeling at 100 for 5, Easwaran and Washington Sundar (39 batting) steadied the ship, adding 105 runs for the sixth wicket.However, Easwaran's dismissal towards the end of the day, caught behind off Aditya Thakare, left India B in a precarious position at 210 for 6. The match remains evenly poised heading into the third day, with India B needing to bat cautiously to avoid a heavy defeat.