At 31, time may be running out for Abhimanyu Easwaran to keep alive his prospects of an India call-up. The current situation may make his prospects even more remote.
However, on his part, Easwaran is trying his best to do the job expected of him.
Most of the talking centred on skipper Ishan Kishan’s unbeaten 111 which helped East Zone to a commanding 385/4 on Day I of the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone in Chennai on Sunday. The task, though, could have been tougher for Ishan if not for a 100-run opening stand between Easwaran and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
What stood out in this opening partnership was the aggression of Easwaran (72 off 86 balls), as he eventually finished with a strike rate of 83.72 before a run-out dismissal cut short his innings. Critics may again point out his failure to convert a good start into three figures in a crucial domestic game. But right through his stay, the Bengal top-order batsman played with a fair amount of conviction even when he faced India quick Mohammed Siraj.
“Abhimanyu looks a lot sharper at present,” East head coach Ratan Kumar said. “He seems keen on making a statement. It’s unfortunate that he got run out. Otherwise, he would’ve scored a lot more.”