The clash between Mumbai and Rest of India in the Irani Cup was nothing short of thrilling. Held at Lucknow's Ekana Cricket Stadium, opener Abhimanyu Easwaran wreaked havoc with his bat. Batting for Rest of India, Easwaran scored a splendid century in the first innings. The right-handed batsman amassed 191 runs off 292 balls, filled with 16 fours and a grand six, before falling to Shams Mulani.
Abhimanyu's Hat-Trick of Centuries
Abhimanyu Easwaran recorded his third consecutive century in first-class cricket, having previously scored centuries in the 2024 Duleep Trophy for India-B. He struck 116 and an unbeaten 157 against India-D and India-C respectively. Easwaran has become the 'run machine' of domestic cricket, boasting over 7500 runs and an average exceeding 49. His List-A cricket feats are equally impressive, yet he awaits his debut for India.
While Abhimanyu Easwaran has occasionally been included as cover in the Indian squad, he is yet to make his debut. In 2021, he was named a standby for the World Test Championship (WTC) final and the England Test series. He also joined the team during the Bangladesh tour in 2022 when Rohit Sharma was injured. Abhimanyu's current form could earn him a spot as a backup opener in the Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia.
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Abhimanyu Ranganathanparameswaran Easwaran was born on September 6, 1995, in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Yet he showcases his cricket prowess for the Bengal team in domestic circles. Besides being a superb batsman, he offers strategic leg-break deliveries that make him an indispensable all-rounder.
A Stadium Built by His Father for His Son
At the time of India's second ODI World Cup victory in 2011, Abhimanyu was only 15. His father, RP Easwaran, a chartered accountant by profession, set up the Abhimanyu Cricket Academy Stadium in Purkul village many years ago. This is where Abhimanyu honed his cricket skills before moving to Delhi and then to Bengal, where he has also captained the team.
In an interview about the stadium, RP Easwaran said, 'This is no personal achievement for me. It feels good, but real success will come when my son plays 100 tests for India. I built this stadium not just for him but because of my passion for the sport. I started its construction in 2006 and continue to upgrade it from my funds. Although it yields no returns, it's all for the love of the game.'
Source: aajtak
Abhimanyu Easwaran dreams of playing for India, stating, 'Every player's ultimate goal is to play for their country. Though people refer to me as an Indian cricketer, I am yet to debut. I hope it happens soon. Playing for the country is my only dream. I will not quit easily and will continue working hard. I want to be prepared at all times.'
Abhimanyu Easwaran has featured in 98 first-class games, scoring 7506 runs at an average of 49.38, including 26 centuries and 29 half-centuries. In List-A cricket, he has played 88 matches, accumulating 3847 runs at an average of 47.49, including 9 centuries and 23 half-centuries. He has also ventured into T20 cricket, amassing 976 runs in 34 matches.
