Abhimanyu Easwaran – The rising star from Bengal

Abhimanyu Easwaran – The rising star from Bengal: Abhimanyu Ranganathaparameshwaran Easwaran is definitely a ‘star in marking’. Abhi, as his teammates call him, made his first-class debut, playing for Bengal, in December 2013 against Uttar Pradesh and came in to bat at No. 3, but could score just 10 runs in the first innings. However, opening the batting in the second innings, he scored 27 runs off the 70 runs required to win the match. Bengal went on to win the game by 8 wickets.

The 20-year old registered his highest score of 150* (427 m, 19 fours), his maiden first-class century, on 5 January 2015, playing at the Eden Gardens against a power-packed Tamil Nadu that included the likes of former India international, Lakshmipathy Balaji.

He had a solid partnership of 134 runs with another India international, Manoj Tiwari (97, 167 mins, 4×14) for the third wicket. This partnership helped Bengal amass 464 runs and take a 218-run first innings lead over their opponent. Abhi was adjudged the Player of the Match.

He has also played in other domestic tournaments like Vijay Merchant Trophy, Dhruv Pandove Trophy, Vinoo Mankad Trophy, Cooch Behar Trophy, Buchi Babu Invitation, Baroda Cricket Association U-19 ODI, BCCI U-19 Inter-Zonal, Late Shri YJ Lele All India U-19 ODI and CK Nayudu Trophy. He has also travelled to Bangladesh with Bengal U-17 squad.

Abhimanyu Easwaran was awarded the Bengal Cricketer of the Year 2014-15. Young Abhi was part of the Cricket Association of Bengal squad that travelled to Sri Lanka in Sept/Oct 2015, for some local games but, unfortunately, he got injured and had to return home without playing a single game. This injury also kept him out of three games in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2015-16.

He played his first game against Rajasthan at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, between 15^th and 18 October 2015. Opening the batting, Abhi came up with a patiently made half-century (53, 254m, 164b, 5 fours). He also had a 94-run fourth wicket partnership with the Bengal skipper, Manoj Tiwari (83, 247m, 17b, 11 fours). This helped his team to score 282 runs in the first innings and take a vital lead of 84 runs.

Playing in 3 games (5 innings), in the ongoing season, Abhi has scored 255 runs at an average of 63.75 with 65 as his highest score. In the game against Odisha (that is underway at the time of filing this report) at Bengal Cricket Academy Ground, Kalyan, West Bengal, Abhimanyu has come up with a well made 88 runs knock with the help of 10 fours and 1 six, facing 156 deliveries.

Abhi is a key member of the Bengal Playing XI and along with the other batting sensation, Sudip Chatterjee, is expected to keep the CAB flag flying high.

With the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan making their debut in IPL 2015, it would not be out of place to expect the young Abhimanyu Easwaran to make his debut in IPL 2016, based on his performance in the current season of the Ranji Trophy.