Abhimanyu Easwaran who has been picked in the Indian squad for the WTC final and the five-match Test series against England, comfortably picked the variations of Piyush Chawla who had just dismissed Sachin Tendulkar, at the age of 10.
Follow Us
Piyush Chawla accounted for the dismissals of Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh in the 2005-06 edition of the Challenger Trophy, leaving the ‘Master Blaster’ in two minds with a googly. While the leg-spinner left these heavyweights in all sorts of trouble with his variations, Chawla soon met his match in the most unlikely manner: at the hands of a 10-year-old boy. The bowler was training in a net session in Dehradun against the child, who managed to comfortably negotiate all the guile and variations, going on to later “theoretically unpack the mystery” to the spinner’s coach. That boy was none other than Abhimanyu Easwaran.
“In 2005, he (Abhimanyu) was batting in our academy nets against Piyush Chawla, and mind you he was not even 10 years old back then, but his reading of the game was such that he was able to theoretically unpack the mystery of Piyush’s bowling action, which he explained to me and his coach when we asked him how he was tackling Piyush’s bowling,” said his father Ranganathan Parameshwaran Easwaran in an interaction with another media portal.
Abhimanyu believes that he could pick Chawla’s variations comfortably, having paid close attention to discussions by commentators on those aspects of the game.
“It was great fun playing against him. Chawla bowled a bit, with me doing the same. I believe paying close attention to discussions by commentators on those aspects of the game while watching matches helped me negotiate his moves,” he said in an exclusive chat to sportslumo.com.
While Abhimanyu certainly enjoyed his fair share of talent, he further backed it up with a crystal clear vision and a strong desire to represent Team India.
“My son started playing cricket when he was six or seven years old. Like any child, he also picked up a bat. We all know cricket in India is like a religion. But, with Abhimanyu, there was something different from the very beginning. He was so passionate about the game. Like, for instance, when he was in class 4th, he said, ‘I will not go to school.’ Like any other parent, I asked him why not. ‘After coming back from school around 3 pm and by practising just for two to three hours, I cannot play for India,’ was his answer. A ten-year-old boy’s vision was so very clear, he knew he wanted to play for his country,” Easwaran’s father Ranganathan said.
This hunger and desire to excel at any cost further reflects on the incredible tally of runs as well as the first-class average. Abhimanyu has amassed 4,401 runs from 64 games which include 13 tons and two double centuries. It is hardly a surprise to see the 25-year-old included in Team India’s squad for the ICC World Test Championship Final and the five-match Test series against England, as a standby player. Abhimanyu is yet to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which makes his selection even more impressive considering the increased focus, on quality performers in the cash-rich league when it comes to selection for the Indian team.
Prithvi Shaw was labelled as a “spectator’s delight” by Team India coach Ravi Shastri in 2018, with the former Indian cricketer further hailing him as a mix of Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. It wouldn’t be wrong to term Abhimanyu as one whose gameplay and mentality resemble that of ‘idol’ Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane.
The young cricketer plays with a high elbow, looks to present a full face of the bat along with a solid textbook technique. Those are attributes that definitely pay tribute to Rahul Dravid’s grit and determination. Abhimanyu looks to carry on after completing a ton with the desire of emerging as a match-winner. He further relishes an opportunity to step up on big occasions, as evident from the match-winning innings in the final of the 2019 Duleep Trophy. The cricketer’s ruthlessness and hunger to excel would certainly get a nod from approval from the Team India skipper. Abhimanyu is extremely calm and composed with a glorious ‘straight drive’ that he termed as his favourite shot. Ajinkya Rahane’s ability to remain cool under pressure reflected in India’s majestic Test series win in Australia.
“It makes me really happy to hear such appreciation about my gameplay, with the comparisons to the three legends definitely humbling. I would be elated to simply emulate their contribution to the national team,” Easwaran said.
Abhimanyu looks up to ‘The Wall’ for inspiration, terming him as a player he loved watching.
“I loved watching Rahul sir bat as a kid. He would step up and deliver the goods under pressure when the Indian team needed someone to score runs in tough situations. The new ball can be tough to negotiate in overseas matches. Batting at the No.3 position can be very challenging. He never complained, negotiating the bowlers effectively and going on to record a big score. His gameplay certainly made it easier for the middle-order batsmen. Rahul sir was calm and aggressive at the same time.,” Easwaran said.
It is certainly interesting to see ‘The Wall’ being termed as aggressive, considering the negative connotation which is usually associated with the term in cricket. Australian cricketers like Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting were slammed for attempting to get under the skin of the opposition in some of the most ruthless ways, with the former’s sledge on Jimmy Anderson criticised by the masses. “Face up then. Get ready for a broken arm. Face up,” Clarke had said during the 2013 Ashes Test in Brisbane.
Abhimanyu believes that there is a lot of misinterpretation when it comes to understanding the meaning of “aggression” and showing “intent” in cricket.
“For me, aggression means being positive and having the intent to dominate as well as score runs. One should not look hassled in any scenario or troubled or even in a hurry. Just remain calm and get the job done. Intent further does not indicate scoring runs at a quick pace or attacking the bowlers. Even putting in a good stride and defending well against a fast-bowler can be a suitable indication. The sole objective should be to deliver what the teams needs,” Easwaran said.
The young opener recounts his first interaction with ‘The Wall’, drawing us back to his days as a cricketer with the India-A team.
“I met Rahul sir at the breakfast table. He came from behind and interacted with me. It was a really special moment indeed,” Easwaran said.
Abhimanyu shares a beautiful relationship with his father, who is a charted accountant but also runs an academy by the name of Abhimanyu Cricket Academy. Ranganathan was very passionate about the game but couldn’t make it a career due to the family’s financial situation. The success of the young opener can be termed as a manner in which he is looking to realise his own dreams.
“My father is my biggest motivator and has always been a pillar of support. There are a lot of things that I discuss with him about cricket. He watches many games and tries to provide as many inputs as possible. For example: A bowler has a habit of delivering a bouncer to a batsman facing his first delivery. He noticed that and informed me about the same,” Easwaran said.
“We share a special relationship. He has been with me throughout the journey, watching me play cricket at various levels. My father gives me advice that even my coaches can’t. He knows me better than anyone else. I have also received a lot of confidence from interactions with him in the past while not in form, as he brings back memories of games where I excelled.”
Ranganathan termed himself as his son’s biggest critic while sharing snippets from Abhimanyu’s journey in a Red Bull video.
“He was always very focussed and goal-oriented. God helps those who help themselves. Abhimanyu has been away from his parents since the age of 9. We get to see him for a month and a half in a year. I am his biggest critic. Can’t be a friend unless I show him the mirror,” Easwaran’s father said.
Abhimanyu is looking forward to learning as much as possible from skipper Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and other members of the Indian team.
“I would like to learn how to adapt to conditions quickly from Virat, as well as the skill of scoring consistently in all conditions. He can further chase down big totals and score runs in crucial games which is commendable. Rohit’s amazing strokeplay and attacking mindset when the chips are down inspires me a lot. He helps the Indian team score runs at a quick pace on difficult wickets, helping them reach a strong position through his batting prowess. Ajinkya is very calm and performs well away from home. Would be great to watch him prepare and witness the modification in his approach to batting while travelling overseas,” Easwaran said.
The young cricketer got an opportunity to witness the players from close quarters, during the recent Test series triumph at home against England.
“Their intensity even in a practice session was amazing to watch. It seemed like a game was going on. The clarity with regard to strategies to be implemented on the field was wonderful. The Team India players were eager to reach the WTC final after going down 1-0 at any cost, which was great to watch. They were angry with the defeat in the opening encounter, but the determination and hunger soon replaced the sadness. The way they played their cricket was amazing. It was great to watch and learn from the guys, who tried to be positive at every stage,” Easwaran said.
Abhimanyu initially struggled with life in a bio-bubble like every other player, but he is now comfortable having built a routine.
“It wasn’t easy initially just to be in a room for a week, and not being able to meet anybody. However, we are professionals so we have to adapt to every scenario and find ways to keep the day productive. I have been doing that. Have been training and watching a lot of movies, web-series. Also been talking to a lot of friends, as there is limited time once the games begin. I love Money Heist. Just waiting for the next season,” Easwaran said.
The young opener is ready to step up in any role if handed a chance. He is drawing inspiration from T Natarajan’s impact in Team India’s recent tour of Australia.
“My sole focus is on delivering quality performances, having drawn inspiration from T Natarajan’s gameplay in the tour of Australia after being handed an opportunity. It will be important to remain consistent, disciplined along with a strong emphasis on adapting to different conditions effectively. I have practised keeping in mind the conditions in England, at the academy in Dehradun with six to seven hours of practice each day. Having received insights from Dada (Sourav Ganguly) and VVS Laxman with regard to English conditions, I am confident about stepping up and getting the job done,” Easwaran concluded.
Rishabh Pant's explosive last-over blitz ignites IPL 2024 amid T20 World Cup comeback talks
