Why not me, again? Abhimanyu Easwaran's India dream endures despite repeated snubs

Abhimanyu Easwaran knows what it is like to be close to the India dressing room without getting the chance to walk out in national colours. He has scored over 8,600 runs in domestic first-class cricket, led Bengal and captained India A. He has been part of India's senior Test squads, but the debut he has worked towards for years remains elusive.At 31, Easwaran is back where he has spent much of his career, leading Bengal in the Ranji Trophy and trying to make his bat do the talking. His fighting 56 against Services in Palam on Sunday was another reminder of his ability to hold an innings together, even as wickets fell around him. But it is what keeps him going, despite another season passing without an India call-up, that offers a glimpse into the cricketer's mindset."Ever since I started playing cricket, my dream has been to play for the country. Before that, I always wanted to play for Bengal because that is the root, and I feel privileged to lead the state team," Easwaran said after the first day's play against Services.His journey has brought him within touching distance of the senior team. He was part of India's Test squads for the 2024-25 tour of Australia and the 2025 tour of England, but did not get an opportunity to make his debut on either tour. The latest omissions have only added to the uncertainty. Easwaran featured in the Duleep Trophy earlier this year but was not included in India's A squads for the series against Australia A in Puducherry or the upcoming multi-day tour of New Zealand.Does it get difficult to handle the disappointment when squads are announced without his name? Easwaran does not pretend that the thought never crosses his mind. The dream to play for India is still there, says Bengal captain Abhimanyu Easwaran after a fighting fifty on a tough pitch in Palam vs Services. @iamnotakshayr reports... #RanjiTrophy https://t.co/c2D7qZLBAK— India Today Sports (@ITGDsports) October 18, 2026"I am okay with it; it is just a part of life, and there is not much else to say. With time you learn. When you get dropped from a squad, thoughts like 'why not me again?' come up, but you get used to it," he said."The job is always to turn up and do well for whatever team you are playing for."WANT TO WIN RANJI FOR BENGAL: EASWARANFor Easwaran, the focus is not only on staying in contention for India but also on achieving something tangible with Bengal. The side came close to winning the Ranji Trophy in 2019-20, when it finished runners-up to Saurashtra. Having led Bengal through different phases of his career, he wants to go one step further."The goal is to win tournaments, we came close to winning the Ranji Trophy. So, the goal is also to win the Ranji Trophy," he said.It is a reminder that his domestic commitments are not merely a holding pattern while he waits for an international opportunity."I am enjoying it at the moment. I am enjoying my time in the middle," he added.His start to the Ranji Trophy season reflects that commitment. Bengal opened their campaign with a nine-wicket win over Delhi in Kalyani. Mohammed Shami's four-wicket haul helped bowl Delhi out for 240 on the opening day. Bengal responded with 429, with centuries from Sudip Kumar Gharami and Abhishek Porel putting the hosts in a commanding position. Delhi made 277 in their second innings, leaving Bengal a target of 89. Easwaran remained unbeaten on 34 as Bengal completed the chase in 15.3 overs, with Ankur Paul scoring 38.Against Services, the conditions made his task particularly demanding. Bengal were bowled out for 184 in 54 overs on a dry pitch that offered assistance to the bowlers. Easwaran scored 56 off 106 balls, striking five boundaries, and added 67 runs for the second wicket with Gharami, who made 38. Once that stand was broken, Bengal lost wickets in clusters, with left-arm spinner Arjun Sharma dismissing Easwaran.The captain felt Bengal had let an opportunity slip, believing one more substantial partnership could have taken them to a more competitive total."It is a bit of a dry wicket that offers some help to the bowlers. Scoring runs and surviving are both quite challenging," he said. "We could have scored a bit more and gotten closer to 225, finishing about 40 runs short, but Services bowled well to make a comeback."His approach to the innings was straightforward: stick to the plan and take each ball as it came."I just tried to follow the game plan. The balls were doing enough where, as a batsman, you know you will get beaten occasionally and balls will keep hitting you, but my challenge was to focus on playing ball-by-ball and executing my long-term plan," he said.- Ends