IND A vs AUS A: Abhimanyu Easwaran plays 100th First-Class game against Australia A ahead of Border Gavaskar Trophy | Cricket News
Abhimanyu Easwaran recorded his 100th First-Class appearance as he represented India A against Australia A in the first unofficial Test at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, Queensland on Thursday.
The 29-year-old Bengal opener was all set to make his milestone match last week in Kolkata with his Ranji Trophy side before the game against Bihar was washed out without the toss being held across all four days. Easwaran, nevertheless, has been on a stupendous red-ball scoring spree this year, coinciding with a call-up to India’s 18-member Border-Gavaskar Trophy squad last week.
Easwaran is also potentially in the running for a spot in the playing XI, should India captain Rohit Sharma miss out one of the five Tests against Australia due to personal reasons.
India A veteran
Easwaran has been one of the most prolific batters in the India A circuit, having made 26 appearances for the second-string team across 26 matches. Only current team India A head coach, Gautam Gambhir, has scored more runs (2119) and hundreds (8) than Easwaran for the India A side. Easwaran has piled on six hundreds and five fifties while aggregating 1662 runs at a 42.61 average for the team.
Easwaran’s 2024 season
While Easwaran appeared in only two Ranji Trophy games last season, his run-scoring form has continued unabated since. Easwaran scored twin fifties against Kerala before finishing his 2023-24 season with a double hundred against Bihar last February. He opened the 2024-25 season in September with two hundreds in three games in the Duleep Trophy before racking up a massive 191 against Mumbai in the Irani Cup earlier this month. Easwaran also racked up his 15th Ranji Trophy century against Uttar Pradesh in the first round this season.
Overall, Easwaran’s prolific First-Class record stands at 7638 runs at a wholesome 49.92 average. He had come close to receiving the India cap when he was drafted in as Rohit’s replacement during India’s 2021 tour to Bangladesh. Easwaran was also roped in during India’s 2021 tour to England, but did not receive a game.
