Abhimanyu Easwaran out of India’s plans, 5 new players given entry! Gautam Gambhir's authority lost

The selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, and the Indian team management have reportedly decided to move on from Abhimanyu Easwaran for the upcoming Tests. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rinku Singh, Sarfaraz Khan, Smaran Ravichandran, and Yash Rathod are among the names in discussions for red-ball cricket.

India, under Gautam Gambhir, suffered a 0-2 Test series whitewash as South Africa dominated both matches to seal their first Test series win in India in 25 years. Notably, it was the second whitewash for the Men in Blue at home in just 12 months, raising major concerns about the recent decline in red-ball cricket.

India’s Test Series Loss to South Africa Forces Selectors to Rethink Their Approach

India’s Test series loss to South Africa has pushed the selectors to rethink their approach, especially for key roles like the number-three batting position. After years of stability under Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara, that spot is now open again.

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The selectors have tried different options that haven’t worked out. Karun Nair couldn’t secure the role during the England tour, and Sai Sudharsan has managed only an average of 27 in 11 innings. His technique still needs polishing, particularly on turning pitches in Asia.

Selectors feel Sudharsan first needs more time in domestic cricket and with India A before he can handle the demands of Test matches. Test cricket is not the stage to fix basic mistakes, and India has repeatedly learnt this the hard way.

Abhimanyu Easwaran No Longer in India’s Test Plans

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Rohit Juglan said that Abhimanyu Easwaran is no longer in contention for the Indian Test side. He added that selectors had already begun moving on from him after the England Lions tour, as Easwaran repeatedly failed to produce runs in high-pressure matches.

“Let me also talk about Abhimanyu Easwaran. It has become very difficult for him now. You won’t see him returning to the team because a clear opinion has formed that he hasn’t delivered in big matches," Juglan said.

"If you look at the recent India A games, the England Lions series, or the matches against Australia, the runs simply weren’t there. So the discussion around him is practically over," he added.

Rinku Singh, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rajat Patidar are Among those in Contention for Test Cricket

Rohit Juglan said that selectors may prioritise technically solid batters who are committed to Test cricket. He noted that several in-form players, including Rinku Singh, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajat Patidar, Smaran Ravichandran, and Yash Rathod, are in discussions to strengthen the red-ball setup.

“The focus now is on better, more specialised batters who value Test cricket. There is a plan to bring such players back into the system, and a few names are at the top of that list — Rinku Singh, Sarfaraz Khan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajat Patidar, Smaran, and Yash. These players have been performing consistently, and there is a lot of discussion around them.”

Also read: BCCI take key decision on split coaching after Gautam Gambhir's Test failures for India