Selector's Snub: Did Easwaran's Father's Criticism Cost Him a Spot?

As of September 29th, 2025, former India chief selector K Srikkanth has opined that Abhimanyu Easwaran's recent snub from the Indian squad for the upcoming West Indies Tests may have been due to his father's strong criticism of the team management.

Easwaran, the West Bengal batter, has been consistently performing at the domestic level but is yet to make his debut for the Indian national team. Earlier this month, his father Ranganathan Easwaran had lashed out at the team management after the youngster was made to warm the bench throughout the recent India-England Test series.

Srikkanth expressed sympathy for Easwaran, stating that he felt bad for the player. However, the former cricketer acknowledged the logic provided by chief selector Ajit Agarkar for the decision to exclude Easwaran. Agarkar had explained that with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal already in the squad, there was no immediate need for a reserve opener at home.

The exclusion of Easwaran has sparked a debate, with his father's previous comments being cited as a potential reason for the snub. As the Indian team prepares to face the West Indies, the focus remains on the selectors' decision-making process and the impact of external factors on player selection.