Indian Cricketer ‘Hurt’ After Gautam Gambhir, Shubman Gill Overlook Him: ‘Even Suryakumar Yadav…’

As India continued their dominant run against the West Indies—an extension of their impressive performance against England—many fans are still marveling at how Shubman Gill’s young side managed to defy expectations. In a country where India hadn’t won a series since 2007, Gill’s team—without Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, or Ravichandran Ashwin—fought valiantly to draw the inaugural Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2.

While the squad’s collective effort earned praise, one name that didn’t feature in the playing XI throughout the series was Abhimanyu Easwaran. The 30-year-old opener, part of the 15-member squad, remained benched for all five Tests, as captain Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir opted for other combinations. Alongside Kuldeep Yadav, Easwaran was one of only two players who didn’t get a game.

Speaking to Revsportz, Easwaran admitted that missing out “hurt.”

“Of course, it does hurt sometimes. You put in all the effort, train hard, and dream of performing for India. But I’m lucky to have a strong support system—my family, friends, and coach. They help me stay grounded. Right now, I’m in a good headspace and looking forward to the Ranji season,” he said.

The Bengal batter added that his focus remains on improvement. “I try to stay focused on what I can control. Work harder, train better. I’m working on a couple of new shots this season—won’t reveal which ones (laughs)—but hopefully, they’ll come off well. Playing for India is my biggest motivation,” he added.

Despite facing tough competition from younger talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Easwaran draws hope from late bloomers. “I’m a big fan of Michael Hussey. He kept scoring in domestic cricket before debuting late for Australia. Even Suryakumar Yadav made his India debut after 30 and is now leading the team. Players like them inspire me. So yes, I do think—‘Why not me?’”