Abhimanyu Easwaran has now smashed three back-to-back first class hundreds ahead of the India vs Australia Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. While Team India are currently in the middle of a 10-Test season, having won their first two against Bangladesh with style and grace, their main Test happens to be the five-Tests scheduled in Australia. As India look for back-up options ahead of the marathon Test series, Easwaran has put his hand up with his consistent performances, one that cannot easily be ignored by the national selectors when they sit to finalise India's squad for that assignment.
Easwaran's latest ton came for Rest Of India against Mumbai in their Irani Cup 2024 outing on Thursday (October 3). He might have missed out on a double hundred, getting out for 191, but his knock comprising of 16 fours and one six meant Rest Of India could post 416, in response to Mumbai's 537. The 29-year-old Bengal cricketer finds himself in a three-way race with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sai Sudharsan to book the reserve opener's slot for the Australia tour.
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Abhimanyu Easwaran To The Rescue
Easwaran's third consecutive back-to-back hundred came at a crucial juncture for his team who were 40/1, losing captain Ruturaj Gaikwad for 9. Sudharsan too got a bit of a start but could not capitalise, getting out for 32 off 79 balls. When Devdutt Padikkal too got back to the pavilion for 31-ball 16, they needed Easwaran to stay for long and the right-handed batting star did not disappoint.
The hundred marked Easwaran's forth ton of the season. This number includes a double century for Easwaran against Bihar in the Ranji Trophy. Easwaran's form will be under scrutiny when India A tour Australia A later this month even as he has been one of Bengal's prolific run-scorers, having scored over 800 runs in the Ranji Trophy 2018-19 at an average of over 95 plus.