'Pains me...'- Abhimanyu Easwaran's omission from IND vs WI Test squad hurts former India opener

Former India opener Aakash Chopra was disheartened not to see Abhimanyu Easwaran in the squad for the 2-match Test series against the West Indies (IND vs WI 2025). The Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee announced India's squad for the Test series on Thursday, September 25. 

They dropped the Bengal batter from the setup, who was with the team during the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy in England. It was reported before; Easwaran can be considered as a long-time prospect. But the reality is not aligning with the claims.

Chopra felt hurt not to see the batter's name in the squad. He felt that selectors may have to choose between Sai Sudharsan and Abhimanyu Easwaran; they decided to go with Sudharshan, who showed some glimpses of his talents during the 5-match Test series against England. The southpaw scored 140 runs at an average of 23.33 in the three tests he played against England. On the other hand, Easwaran, who is also a left-handed batsman, is yet to make his Test debut. He was with the team for a significant amount of time but has yet to get a single chance to show his talent at the highest level of cricket. 

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You are not making him play at all: Chopra

"Abhimanyu Easwaran's absence pains me a little because you have kept him with the team many times, taken him around, but have not played a match. You are not making him play at all. Now he is not part of the team. There was no place for him in the playing XI," Chopra said in his YouTube video. 

"I think there would have been a toss-up in the mind between Sai Sudharsan and Abhimanyu Easwaran. I think Sai Sudharsan has given enough glimpses for you to persist with him, and this will be the series where he will have to leave his imprint and seal the deal. So Abhimanyu Easwaran misses out, which is really unfortunate," he further added.