SA vs IND: Abhimanyu Easwaran likely to replace injured Ruturaj Gaikwad for Test series against South Africa
The Bangladeshi batsman is currently part of India A, who are touring South Africa. He has amassed more than 6,000 runs in first-class cricket, including 22 centuries and 26 half-centuries.
New Delhi: Uncapped Bangladesh opener Abminanyu Easwaran is likely to be called up to the senior India team for the two-match Test series against South Africa, replacing Ruturaj Gaikwad, according to reports. Ruturaj, who suffered a finger injury during the second ODI against the Proteas, was ruled out on Friday. The first test starts on December 26 in Centurion.
The talented Bengal opener has been a regular in the India A side for quite some time and even made it to the senior team a few times. But Easwaran never got the chance to represent the national team. He made his first-class debut for Bengal in 2013 and quickly impressed with his consistent performances, amassing over 6,000 runs in first-class cricket at an impressive average of 47.24.
Easwaran is currently part of the India A side touring South Africa and hit an unbeaten knock of 61 runs on Day 2 of the first practice match. However, when contacted, Easwaran declined to comment on the matter. ‘I can’t tell you anything now. It’s the team’s decision,” he told this website.
Abhimanyu Easwaran will replace Ruturaj Gaikwad in the South African Test series. [Sports Tak] pic.twitter.com/DFWJ9WbSqS
– Johannes. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 22, 2023
With Gaikwad not playing, Easwaran can dream of making his India debut, provided he is included in the squad. The two-match series is part of the 2023-2025 World Test Championship. The second test starts on January 3 in Cape Town.
Earlier, Men in Blue completed their white-ball tour of South Africa with a win. India managed to draw the T20I series 1-1 as one match was wiped out. In the ODI series, India won 2-1. India have never won a Test series in South Africa and Rohit Sharma’s men will look to change their fortunes this time.
The last time India played a Test series in South Africa was in December 2021-January 2022. Back then, India won the first Test in Centurion, before South Africa bounced back to win matches in Johannesburg and Cape Town to ultimately claim the series 2. -1.
South Africa Test Squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne.
India Test Team: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk) KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna.