Kris Srikkanth empathised with Abhimanyu Easwaran, who was dropped from India's squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against the West Indies. The Bengal batter was a part of India's squad during the Border-Gavaskar series as well as the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. However, he didn't get the opportunity to make his long-awaited international debut.
Former India opener, Srikkanth, said that Easwaran's father's strong statements in the aftermath of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy could have been
the reason why his name was omitted from the squad. However, the cricketer-turned-expert said that BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar's explanation was understandable.
"I feel bad for Abhimanyu Easwaran. I think his father made some strong statements (after England), and maybe that's why they've dropped him now. But Ajit Agarkar's reasoning on not needing a reserve opener at home was fair," Srikkanth said on his Youtube Channel.
For the unversed, Easwaran's father, Ranganathan, expressed his frustration during an interview after his son wasn't handed his debut in the United Kingdom. Ranganathan blamed the Indian think tank for giving opportunities to players who have done well in the Indian Premier League (IPL) ahead of his son.
Incidentally, 15 players have made their Test debut for India since Easwaran's maiden call-up to the national team in December 2022.
During the five-match Test series against England, Sai Sudharsan made his debut. The Tamil Nadu batter didn't have a great first-class record before that series. However, he entered the tour high on confidence after winning the Orange Cap in IPL 2025.
Meanwhile, Agarkar explained that Easwaran was left out of the side because the selectors felt that an extra opener wasn't needed for a home series. In case they do need him, he will be able to join the team on short notice.
The first Test between India and the West Indies gets underway at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday, October 2. Meanwhile, the second Test will be played from October 10 onwards at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
