Abhimanyu Easwaran and Ruturaj Gaikwad are the new faces of unlucky cricketers currently in the Indian setup. Both openers await their maiden call-up to India’s Test squad despite being in phenomenal form and having staggering stats in first-class cricket. If one had even remotely assumed that a hint of their inclusion would be seen in IND vs NZ Tests, then that has also been shattered. However, there is still a way for one of the two batters to find their way into Team India.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhimanyu Easwaran’s India Test dreams delayed
Let’s talk about Abhimanyu Easwaran first. The Bengal opener has some of the most mind-blowing numbers when it comes to first-class cricket, both in terms of experience and the runs amassed. He had earned a call-up during the IND vs ENG Test series earlier this year but never featured in a game. The unstoppable Easwaran continued his fine form in the Ranji Trophy first and then backed it up to start off a fresh season with a bang in the Duleep Trophy. The batter served a reminder to the selectors by striking three back-to-back centuries in the Duleep Trohpy.
As for Ruturaj Gaikwad, the chatter around his inclusion in Tests has just grown louder over time. The CSK skipper is already the victim of not finding a spot in the white-ball formats due to the presence of India’s first-choice players. His ability to lead the side as captain in the red-ball format, as witnessed in the Duleep Trophy, coupled with his form has made him a strong contender for the role of a reserve opener in Tests.
| Player | Matches | Runs |
| Abhimanyu Easwaran | 98 | 7506 |
| Ruturaj Gaikwad | 33 | 2282 |
How Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhimanyu Easwaran can make it to Tests?
Both Ruturaj Gaikwad and Abhimanyu Easwaran have only one obvious route to a spot in Team India, barring a miracle. It is the ongoing Ranji Trophy. With the IND vs AUS Test series coming up in late November, the two openers have nearly three weeks to prove their mettle in the red-ball format in order to fancy a chance of being named as the reserve opener in the squad. Not just this, reports of Rohit Sharma set to miss a couple of Tests in the BGT 2024-25 provides a golden window for Easwaran and Gaikwad to break through and cash in on the opportunity.
But in order to do so, their fine form must continue. Easwaran’s Ranji season started off on a poor note after he was dismissed for a single-digit score in the 1st innings of BEN vs UP. Gaikwad, on the other hand, is leading Maharashtra and is yet to bat in their opener against Jammu and Kashmir. While India do have back-up openers in the form of KL Rahul and Shubman Gill, they would surely want a reserve opener. Given that Ruturaj Gaikwad has already managed to grab the attention of the selectors for the role in Australia, it is time for Easwaran to go all out to outdo the CSK skipper and bag the role that he very well deserves.
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