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After BCCI asked Shubhman Gill to return back to home following his injury, speculations around the opening combination of India against the England Test series have surged a lot. In a recent development, former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Saba Karim has lauded the reported move of BCCI to add Bengal batsman Abhimanyu Easwaran in the main Test squad from the standby players' list. Karim believes that if an opening batsman is injured, another opener should fill the gap. Additionally, he stated that Easwaran has highly impressed in the domestic cricket.
Easwaran can get to play if the openers struggle: Saba Karim
Saba Karim believes that the Bengal lad would get a chance to play in case the Indian openers fail to perform in the first two Tests of the five-match series against England.
“If he (Easwaran) doesn't get a chance in the first two Test matches, and our openers don't click (in those games), which we don't want, Abhimanyu Easwaran will also get a chance to come in the (playing) XI, which will be a huge achievement for him," said the former BCCI general manager during a discussion on India News.
Will Abhimanyu Easwaran get a chance in England series?
It is worth noting that India have KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal present in the Test squad for series against England. While Rahul has not been at the top of his form in Test cricket, Agarwal’s form has been better than before. However, it was a surprise for many when Agarwal was excluded from the playing XI against Australia Down Under but Gill, his replacement, impressed everyone in Australia.
On the other hand, Easwaran has aggregated 4401 runs at an average of 43.57 in 64 first-class matches. In the process, the Bengal star has scored 13 centuries, with 233 being his highest score. However, his stats in List A cricket are rather more appealing- 62 games, 2875 runs at an average of 48.72.