Is Abhimanyu Easwaran the best choice as replacement opener for Rohit Sharma in first Test of BGT 2024?

A huge blow is coming to India's way as captain Rohit Sharma is reportedly set to miss the first Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 in Perth. As per reports, Rohit will be unavailable for the opener of the series due to personal reasons. Nevertheless, he'll return for the rest of the matches. Now, the main concern is who will open India's innings in the first match. Even though Rohit is irreplaceable, the series is crucial, and a talented batter, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal, is required to bat. 

A BCCI source told PTI, "There isn't any complete clarity about the situation. It is understood that Rohit has intimated to the BCCI that there is a possibility that due to a pressing personal matter, he might have to skip one of the two Tests at the beginning of the series."

If we analyze the current domestic set-up, Abhimanyu Easwaran seems to be the right choice for the place. He has just scored a blistering 27th First Class century against Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow and is in red-hot form. In the Irani Cup that concluded in September, Easwaran scored 191 runs against Mumbai. He has potential, and most importantly, he has consistently scored runs, which is a positive sign. 

While the playing conditions in Australia are completely different from those in India, the selectors should try him out since he has scored tons of runs in domestic matches. He has four centuries in the last four games. Additionally, the selectors have plenty of time before the Australia tour to keep track of the player as the Ranji season just started. The only thing Easwaran can do now is score some more runs and wait for his call-up from the selectors. 

Also Read: Injury crisis in Australian camp hands India huge boost ahead of Border Gavaskar Trophy

BCCI announced the Indian squad for the New Zealand squad

India's next assignment is against New Zealand for a 3-match Test series. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have announced the squad for the series where Rohit Sharma is set to lead, with Jasprit Bumrah as his deputy. The squad has no surprise elements, but the travel reserves are full of new faces. The selectors have kept Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Prasidh Krishna and Mayank Yadav in the travel reserves, which is shocking.