Snubbed Test batter Abhimanyu Easwaran smashes unbeaten 66-ball 130 in reply to Abhishek Sharma's stormy 52-ball 148, sends message to IPL franchises

Amidst continued snub from Test squad, Bengal captain Abhimanyu Easwaran went on a T20 rampage mode in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025. Replying to Punjab captain Abhishek Sharma’s 52-ball 148, Easwaran registered his career-best T20 score of unbeaten 66-ball 130. There is often been talk about Easwaran not getting the India camp because of his absence from an Indian Premier League (IPL) team. The Bengal skipper has sent a message to IPL franchises ahead of mini-auction with his stormy knock in an unsuccessful run chase in Hyderabad.

Unlike Sharma, Easwaran did not get enough help from the other order. He walked in to bat in the first over after Sharma dismissed Karan Lal. Bengal suffered a collapse. None of the top nine batters apart from Easwaran scored in double digits.

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On the other end, Easwaran continued to hit big. He reached his fifty from 21 balls when Bengal were four down. He was nearing his century when Bengal had lost eight wickets for 115 after 14 overs. Akash Deep contributed with a cameo, hitting five sixes in his seven-ball 31.

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The 10th wicket partnership was worth 46 runs. Easwaran reached his second T20 century from 55 deliveries. Chasing a mammoth target of 311, Bengal managed to post 198/9, losing by 113 runs. Easwaran remained unbeaten for 130. His knock featured 13 fours and eight sixes.

Easwaran breaks Saha’s record

Easwaran's 130-run knock is the highest individual score for a Bengal batter and eighth best overall in SMAT history. The previous record was held by Wriddhiman Saha who scored 129 off 62 balls against Arunachal Pradesh in the 2019 edition. Easwaran is also the first Bengal batter to score two centuries in SMAT.

Continued snub for Easwaran

Prolific run-scorer in domestic cricket, Easwaran has not made his Test debut as the selectors and team management are not convinced with his batting against bowlers at international circuit. Despite scoring 8,136 runs at an average of 47.85, including 27 centuries, he hasn't got the nod.

He did not do himself a favour when he registered a pair representing India A against South Africa A in a red-ball game in Bengaluru.