Ravichandran Ashwin launched a scathing attack on the Indian selectors after Abhimanyu Easwaran’s explosive knock in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025. Easwaran reminded everyone why he has long been one of the most reliable players in domestic cricket with his latest performance for Bengal in the ongoing maiden T20 tournament.
The Bengal star smashed a breathtaking unbeaten total of 130 off just 66 balls against Punjab. Easwaran’s superb knock was laced with 13 massive boundaries and 8 sixes at the Gymkhana Ground. Chasing a massive 311 after Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking assault, Easwaran fought on his own, scoring almost two-thirds of his team’s total.
Ravichandran Ashwin slams Indian selectors after Abhimanyu Easwaran carnage at SMAT 2025
Earlier, Abhishek played a blistering innings of 148 runs off just 52 balls, interspersed with 8 boundaries and 16 sixes for Punjab in the SMAT clash against Bengal. However, Easwaran’s heroic efforts with the bat were not enough for Bengal, as Punjab won the match by 112 runs on 30 November. Apart from him, only Aaksh Deep (31) reached double figures in this match.
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However, Easwaran’s batting masterclass was enough to attract the attention of former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin. In fact, Easwaran was continuously overlooked for India’s selection in Tests despite the seasoned batter’s consistent performances in domestic cricket.
Easwaran was even ignored during India’s recent Test series against South Africa at home, but he quietly let his batting do the talking. He started the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season on a brilliant note, and now his SMAT exploits have thrust him back into the limelight.
Now we can see it for sure now: Ravichandran Ashwin’s fiery attack on the selectors
Well, Ravichandran Ashwin used Abhimanyu Easwaran’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 heroics against Punjab to mock the current Indian Test selection model, where white-ball fireworks are preferred over traditional red-ball consistency.
The former India player sarcastically urged the national selectors to consider Easwaran for Tests as he has also scored a century in T20 cricket.
Ravichandran Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel: “Abhimanyu Easwaran has also scored a hundred in T20s. Now we can see that for sure now. Given that he has now scored runs in T20s, we will definitely be able to see him in the Test team now.”
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India’s transition phase continues, but door remains closed for Abhimanyu Easwaran
Even though India is going through a major transition in Test cricket after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the Bengal opener is still yet to receive his much-awaited Test debut. Instead, he was mainly used as a substitute or sent on ‘A’ tours to India while other players were picked before him.
Easwaran’s numbers show why many former Indian cricketers feel he deserves a chance. The Bengal star played 109 first-class matches, scoring 8,136 runs at an average of 47.85, and hit 27 centuries, which shows how consistent he has been in red-ball cricket.
Earlier, Easwaran admitted that the wait for his India debut has been difficult, but the support of his family, friends and coach keeps him motivated. He is now focusing on the new Ranji season and its white ball game. As captain, he helped Bengal start the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with two wins before Punjab produced an incredible performance to end their streak.
