“Abhimanyu Easwaran has scored a hundred in T20 also now” - R Ashwin’s subtle dig at team management amid SMAT 2025-26

Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin issued a sly dig at the selectors, urging them to consider Abhimanyu Easwaran in the Test side now that he is among the runs in T20 cricket as well. The Bengal top-order batter struck a stunning unbeaten 130 off 66 deliveries in the recent 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy clash against Punjab.

After being omitted from Team India's squad for their home Tests against South Africa and the West Indies, Abhimanyu Easwaran responded with a decent start to the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season, and translated the form in white-ball cricket as well.

After being tasked with a mammoth 311-run target following Abhishek Sharma's historic showing, Easwaran led the charge single-handedly, scoring two-thirds of the team's total in the 112-run loss. The right-handed batter was one of the two players who recorded double figures in the run chase.

R Ashwin sarcastically urged the selectors to consider Easwaran for Tests because he is showing promise in the shortest format.

"Abhimanyu Easwaran scored a hundred in T20 also now. Now we can get to see him for sure now. Given that he has now scored runs in T20, for sure we will get to see him in the Test team now," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

The current selection committee have been accused of selecting players on the basis of their IPL exploits and white-ball ability for the Test team rather than using red-ball domestic cricket as an avenue.

"It does hurt sometimes" - Abhimanyu Easwaran on his frustrating run on the sidelines

The Bengal batter has had to settle for a place on the bench or in the India 'A' setup despite India's major transition phase in Tests after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Although the team had vacant slots on occasion during the series against Australia and England, Easwaran was not preferred as the team management opted to take a different route altogether.

Even with over 100 first-class matches and an average of 47.85, which includes 27 hundreds, he has yet to make his international debut.

"Yes, it does hurt sometimes. You put in all the effort, train hard, and the dream is to be in the middle, to perform, to contribute to wins. But I'm fortunate to have a solid support system: my family, friends, and coach. They help me stay grounded and motivated. Right now, I'm in a good headspace and looking forward to the Ranji season," he had told Revsportz in October.

Under his captaincy, Bengal have made a decent start in Group C of the 2025-26 SMAT edition, winning both of their opening set of matches, before enduring a freak display by Punjab.