India is touring England for the first time in 4 years. For the first time in over a decade, India’s tour will not feature Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin. Additionally, there will be no Rohit Sharma, who was India’s best batter in the previous tour in 2021. Hence, there is a big void in India’s batting, without a doubt.
To fill the void could be a big deal for many teams. Thankfully for India, there are plenty of options available, given the talent pool they have. In India A’s unofficial tests against the England Lions, many batters shone. They were led by Abhimanyu Easwaran, who probably deserves a spot on the Indian team.
Here are the three reasons why Abhimanyu Easwaran deserves a chance in the Indian team against England:
Experience in India A Tours
Easwaran has been with the Indian A team for a long time, probably longer than anyone in India A’s squad that faced the England Lions. He has great exposure to playing conditions in England. More importantly, he has been consistent with the Indian team.
He is someone who understands his game well and knows what India currently wants. With the retirement of Rohit and Virat, Easwaran might be the guy who has the best chance to make it to the side.
Flexibility in batting positions
India’s XI is hard to pick, given the fact that many players shone in India A’s practice matches against England Lions. Hence, there could be a case for selections made based on the versatility the batters possess.
Easwaran is someone who can bat both as an opener and a position or two lower. With Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul potentially opening for India, Easwaran can bat in the middle order. Else, Rahul can also be demoted to fit Easwaran at the top.
Ability to blunt out bowling attacks
More importantly, Easwaran could be the successor for Cheteshwar Pujara, i.e., someone who can play long innings, blunt down the bowling attacks, and tire down the bowlers, which makes them commit more mistakes than they otherwise would.
Since Pujara’s lean patch, India hasn’t had such a batter. Easwaran can bat long and put pressure on opponents. After getting set, he can score runs at a quick pace, just like Pujara. Hence, his spot in the XI makes sense.
Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.
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