“I don’t think about selection, it’s not in my hands”: Abhimanyu Easwaran
In the last few years, one of the biggest headaches for the Indian Test team has been the absence of a specialist opening pair. Plenty of makeshift batsmen tried to make the opening spot their own, but haven’t been able to cement their place. Following KL Rahul’s consistent failures with the bat on the Caribbean tour, the door is now open for Rohit Sharma, as recently announced by chief selector MSK Prasad.
Another name that deservingly features in India’s Test squad against South Africa is that of upcoming sensation Shubman Gill. The youngster has been making waves in the domestic circuit as well as for India A. But the 20-year-old will have to wait for his chance at least in this series as Rohit is likely to get the nod. Before the Indian squad was announced, two more names stood out in the race – 29-year-old Priyank Panchal from Gujarat and newly appointed Bengal captain, Abhimanyu Easwaran.
Read: India Under-19 defend 106 against Bangladesh to win Asia Cup
While Easwaran didn’t make the cut in the national side, he will be representing India A and the Board President’s XI against South Africa. Despite not receiving a call-up, the 24-year-old believes that he isn’t too far away from national selection across formats.
In an exclusive interview with 100MB, the unassuming youngster opens up about his journey to Bengal cricket, his dreams and aspirations and much more. Excerpts…
Q. How do you feel about being left out of India’s squad against South Africa? Is it disappointing or does it inspire you to do better?
Abhimanyu: I don’t think much about selection because it is not in my hands. I wasn’t thinking about it when the team was announced. In fact, my family and close friends were more excited about my selection than me. I would’ve definitely been happy to be selected, but the reality is that it didn’t happen. Now that my name is in the Board President’s XI team, I just want to do well for myself and the team. I have tried to do my best in whatever opportunities I’ve got and I’d like to continue doing that by scoring plenty of runs.
Q. How difficult do you think is getting into the national team, considering the stiff competition from players like Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Priyank Panchal?
Abhimanyu: Healthy competition in the team is always good as it motivates you to score more runs. I don’t compare myself to anyone but my own performances and try to analyse if I’ve done better than before. Every cricketer has his own style of playing and to excel in my style is what matters to me the most. And if you can be the match-winner of your team, there’s no greater feeling than that.
Q. Tell us about your experience batting in tough conditions like the West Indies
Abhimanyu: Conditions in the West Indies were challenging as the Dukes ball used there was harder than the others. The first 15-20 overs were beneficial for the bowlers because of that and the wicket was also different. Even the mindset of the Windies bowlers was totally different. The biggest challenge in those conditions was to bat 7-8 overs against the red ball under fading lights. But overall, it was a learning experience for me as these conditions will be highly prevalent in international cricket. If you’ve had a first-hand experience of batting in such conditions, it helps you be more successful in future.
Q. The Indian team’s middle order in ODIs is still a bit unsettled. If given a chance, how would you approach the position?
Abhimanyu: Although I’ve mostly batted in the opening slot in the top order, it really doesn’t matter where I bat. I can do well in any position, even if it is the middle order.
Q. What is the most crucial aspect of your batting that you always focus on?
Abhimanyu: I genuinely think that if I’m feeling physically fit, I can bat well. That’s why I focus the most on keeping myself physically active. Only if I’m fit, I’ll be able to give my best on the field for a long time. So I try to work on that aspect a lot.
Q. Do you have any favourites in the current Indian national team?
Abhimanyu: I like the way Virat Kohli bats and his aggressive approach on the field. I also want to learn from MS Dhoni how to keep my calm in pressure situations and take the right decisions.
Q. Pace or spin – what do you prefer facing? Which international bowler would you love batting against?
Abhimanyu: I don’t have a preference as such. I can bat well against both, fast bowling and spin bowling. If given a chance, I’d definitely love to bat against Shane Warne.
Q. Who is your role model? Is there anyone special who has helped you the most on your journey so far?
Abhimanyu: Ever since the time I’ve started playing cricket, Rahul Dravid sir has been my inspiration. My parents and my sister have been my pillars of strength throughout my journey. They’ve always stood by me and given me confidence in my most difficult situations. My coach Apoorv Desai has helped me improve my game a lot. He was the one who prepared me for the big tournaments.
Q. Now that you’ve been named the captain of the Bengal cricket team, what challenges do you foresee?
Abhimanyu: I’m very happy to be appointed the captain of Bengal. It’s an honour that the selectors have shown faith in me and entrusted such a huge responsibility. It’s a very good team that we have right now and I’m ready for the challenge. Some of the players have already played at the international level, while some are newcomers and that makes the team quite interesting. I know it’s a tough job, but I just want to enjoy my role and I hope that together, we can take the team to greater heights.
Q. What are your views on the IPL? Which franchise would you like to play for?
Abhimanyu: I’m not really a fan of any IPL team but my mother is a fan of Shahrukh Khan, so she likes the Kolkata Knight Riders. The IPL is a very good platform for young talent and an opportunity to rub shoulders with the best cricketers in the world. A lot of players from the domestic circuit have gotten their big breaks because of the IPL.
