India’s upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia may mark a new chapter for opener Abhimanyu Easwaran. With captain Rohit Sharma possibly missing the first Test due to personal reasons, Easwaran could partner Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top. Easwaran’s remarkable run in domestic cricket has earned him a place in the Test squad, and now all eyes are on whether he will get his long-awaited debut on Australian soil.
A Cricket Stadium Named After an Active Player
In a rare and heartwarming twist, Abhimanyu Easwaran is the only active cricketer with a stadium named after him. The Abhimanyu Cricket Academy, located in Dehradun, was built by his father, Ranganathan Parameswaran Easwaran, a chartered accountant with an extraordinary dream. Ranganathan, who once earned a living by selling newspapers, wanted to create a facility for his son to nurture his cricketing talent.
Founded in 1988, the academy began small, but in 2005, Ranganathan turned it into a first-class stadium, investing all his savings. Today, the stadium hosts official matches organized by the BCCI, and Abhimanyu himself has scored a century in a Ranji Trophy match played on its grounds, fulfilling his father’s dream in the most poetic way.
Consistent Performance in Domestic Cricket
Abhimanyu Easwaran’s domestic career has been nothing short of spectacular. The Bengal opener has scored 27 centuries in First-Class cricket, 9 in List A, and 1 in T20 matches, taking his total century tally to 37. In 99 First-Class matches, he has amassed 7,638 runs at an average of 49.92, along with 3,847 runs in 88 List A matches at 47.49.
Recently, Easwaran has been in tremendous form, scoring over 600 runs in his last six innings, including four centuries. He smashed 157 runs against India C in the Duleep Trophy, followed by 116 against India D. In the Irani Trophy, he continued his form with a 191-run knock against Mumbai for the Rest of India team. He also registered an unbeaten 127 against Uttar Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy.
A Bright Future Awaits
With Rohit Sharma’s absence in the first Test likely, Easwaran’s debut could finally happen. If given a chance, his experience and form might give India a solid start in the Australian conditions. Easwaran’s journey from a dream nurtured by his father to the verge of representing India at the highest level is a story of hard work and determination.
As cricket fans eagerly wait for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the potential debut of a player with both stellar domestic records and a stadium named in his honor adds a fascinating narrative to the series.
