After a finger injury ruled Ruturaj Gaikwad out of the IND vs SA Test series, BCCI has announced Abhimanyu Easwaran as his replacement. Much like Ruturaj, Abhimanyu is also an opener who has a stellar first-class record. The right-hander, who plays for Bengal, was already part of the India A squad for the South Africa tour and will now have the golden opportunity to make his international debut.
In a statement released by BCCI, it is revealed that Ruturaj suffered an injury to his right ring finger in the field during the IND vs SA second ODI in Gqeberha.
Ruturaj then underwent scans and was ruled out of the remainder of the tour by the BCCI Medical Team. The statement further read that Abhimanyu Easwaran will replace the batter as the backup opener, while Ruturaj will go to the NCA for further treatment.
Abhimanyu Easwaran’s stellar first-class record
Abhimanyu Easwaran has been consistently performing on the domestic circuit. The opener has been constantly contesting for a spot on the India cricket team for the last decade. In his 10-year career, Easwaran averages over 47 with 22 tons and 26 half-centuries in first-class cricket.
The experienced opener has been on several India A tours but has failed to get a chance. In the recently concluded India A vs South Africa A match, he made an unbeaten 61-run knock on Day 2. However, he was retired by the Indian management mid-inning.
Looking back at it now, it seems like a call had already been made. The Indian management had decided that Abhimanyu Easwaran was their backup opener right then and there.
India’s Test squad for IND vs SA series
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk). Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk).
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