India may have levelled the series 2-2 against England at The Oval, but for Abhimanyu Easwaran, the tour ended in heartbreak. Despite travelling with the squad for all five Tests, he did not get a single game. Even in the final match, when injuries opened up spots, his name was not called. He believed his opportunity had finally arrived. It didn’t.
Father Shares His Son’s Reaction
Abhimanyu’s father, Ranganathan Parameshwaran Easwaran, spoke about his son’s emotions after the snub. “He was upset because he wasn’t picked,” Ranganathan said in a chat with Vickey Lalwani. “When I called him, he said, ‘Dad, I still haven’t found a place.’ I could sense he was disturbed.”
What Abhimanyu said next revealed his resilience. “He told me, ‘I’ve lived my dream for 23 years. Not getting picked for one or two games won’t shatter that.’ That’s when I knew he may be down but he’s not broken,” his father shared.
Focused on the Next Challenge
Instead of dwelling on disappointment, Abhimanyu is preparing for the Duleep Trophy. “He’ll head to Bengaluru for 10-12 days of preparation before returning to Dehradun,” his father revealed. He is determined to keep working hard for the next opportunity.
Support From Gautam Gambhir
One of the biggest morale boosts came from head coach Gautam Gambhir, who had an encouraging conversation with Abhimanyu during the tour. “Gambhir told him, ‘You’re doing the right things. You’ll get your turn and I’ll give you a long run. I’m not the kind of coach who drops a player after one or two matches.’ That gave my son a lot of confidence,” Ranganathan said.
Staying Ready for His Turn
The message from the coaching staff was clear—Abhimanyu’s time will come, and when it does, it will not be a short stint. His journey reflects patience, passion and character. He could have let the disappointment break him, but he hasn’t.
Abhimanyu Easwaran has been waiting for years, and with the belief of his father and a coach who values giving chances, he is staying prepared. Like Rishabh Pant once waited for his moment, Easwaran’s chance might be close. And when it comes, he intends to seize it with both hands.
