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Xtra Time Web Desk: Abhimanyu Easwaran is turning heads in the domestic circuit with his scintillating form. On October 14, he smashed yet another century, marking his fourth consecutive ton in First-Class cricket. This time, the venue was Lucknow's Ekana Stadium, where Bengal faced Uttar Pradesh in a Ranji Trophy match. Easwaran’s unbeaten 127 off 172 balls not only helped Bengal gain an edge but also sent a loud message to the Indian selectors. 

Easwaran has been called up multiple times for the Indian Test team but has never debuted in the red-ball format. Easwaran was in terrific form in the recently concluded Duleep and Irani Trophy where he piled on runs for his teams. Easwaan's scores from the last 10 innings are as follows 127*, 191, 116, 19, 157*, 13, 4, 200*, 72, 65.

Despite his stellar performances, Easwaran was overlooked for the India vs New Zealand Test series, where only two openers – Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal – were included. However, his recent form makes him a prime contender to replace or back up other openers for the upcoming India vs Australia Test series.

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Easwaran's latest hundred came at a crucial moment. After a low score of just 5 runs in the first innings, he roared back with an authoritative knock on Day 4 of the Ranji opener. His ability to bounce back from setbacks is precisely what makes him a solid candidate for the national squad.  

This century adds to an impressive streak of four consecutive tons in First-Class cricket, including scores from the Duleep Trophy and the Irani Cup. With an average of 133.86 in his last 10 innings, Easwaran has shown that he isn’t just scoring runs – he’s doing so consistently and with intent. 

While Ruturaj Gaikwad is another promising talent, he hasn’t quite found his rhythm in red-ball cricket. Easwaran’s recent performances, however, make a compelling case for him to be the backup opener in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With Rohit Sharma and Jaiswal likely to open, the Indian team needs a solid third option, especially since Shubman Gill is now settling into the No. 3 role in Tests.  

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Abhimanyu Easwaran to be part of  India A squad

Reports suggest that Easwaran will be part of the India A squad, which is set to shadow tour Australia. But with his current form, he deserves more than a reserve role.  

Though the BCCI snubbed him for the New Zealand series, Easwaran’s job is clear – keep piling on the runs in domestic cricket. If he maintains this form, it will be hard for the selectors to ignore him when India head to Australia. Easwaran’s hunger for runs, combined with his experience, makes him the perfect fit as a backup opener. And with every passing match, his dream of wearing the India Test jersey comes closer to reality.