As India’s Test squad embarks on a new era under Shubman Gill’s captaincy, the debate over the No. 3 batting slot has sparked a wave of opinions from former cricketers. With Sai Sudharsan earning his Test debut in the first match against England at Headingley, several veterans have voiced their support for Abhimanyu Easwaran, citing his proven domestic record over Sudharsan’s recent IPL success.
🏏 Kaif, Raman, and Jaffer Rally Behind Easwaran
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif took to X (formerly Twitter) to express disappointment over Easwaran’s omission:
“Abhimanyu Easwaran deserves to be in the playing XI before Sai Sudharsan. His 27 first-class hundreds and nearly 8,000 runs need to be respected.”
WV Raman, ex-India women’s coach, echoed the sentiment, urging the team management to “reward consistency” and not overlook a player who has been knocking on the door for years.
Wasim Jaffer also included Easwaran in his predicted XI, highlighting his red-ball credentials.
🔥 IPL vs Domestic Debate Heats Up
Sudharsan, 23, earned his Test cap after a stellar IPL 2025 season, where he scored 759 runs and won the Orange Cap. However, critics argue that IPL form shouldn’t outweigh years of domestic performance, especially in the longer format.
Easwaran, 29, has been a consistent performer in first-class cricket and recently scored two fifties for India A against England Lions, strengthening his case for a Test debut.
🧢 Selection Under Scrutiny
With Karun Nair also returning to the squad after eight years, the selectors’ choices have come under the scanner. Many believe that Gautam Gambhir and the team management must strike a balance between potential and proven experience.
Stay tuned for more updates from the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy.
