Dropped from India squad, Abhimanyu Easwaran makes fresh Gautam Gambhir admission: 'Just like me'

Indian opener Abhimanyu Easwaran has praised head coach Gautam Gambhir's influence on his batting technique. Gambhir is currently leading Team India in Australia for a five-match T20I series, where they trail 0-1 after two matches.

Gambhir took charge as the national team's head coach in July. Under his leadership, India secured victories in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at home and the Asia Cup in Dubai this year.




"It has been really advantageous for me because he has played at the highest level of cricket. He was a very successful cricketer, and he was an opening batter just like me. I have talked to him a lot about batting, and I have learned a lot. It has had a good impact. We practice in things that will be beneficial according to the surface. We talk about those things a lot," he told ANI.

Gambhir established himself as one of India's leading opening batsmen from 2003 to 2016, forming a formidable partnership with Virender Sehwag. He amassed 10,324 runs in 242 international matches at an average of 38.95, including 20 centuries and 63 fifties in 283 innings.

In his Test career spanning 2004-16, Gambhir played 58 matches, scoring 4,154 runs at an average of 41.95. His record includes nine centuries and 22 fifties, with a highest score of 206.

Gambhir reached the pinnacle of Test rankings during 2008-09. He scored 1,861 runs in 13 Tests at an average of 77.54, with seven centuries and seven fifties, earning him the ICC Test Player of the Year award in 2009.

His memorable 137 against New Zealand in Napier helped India secure a 1-0 series victory. In ODIs, he accumulated 5,238 runs in 147 matches between 2003-13, averaging 39.68 with 11 centuries and 34 fifties.

Gambhir played a crucial role in India's 2011 World Cup victory. He was the tournament's sixth-highest run-scorer and second-highest for India, scoring 393 runs in nine innings at 43.66 with four fifties.

His notable contribution included a match-winning 97 against Sri Lanka in the final at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, helping India chase 275 and claim the World Cup after 28 years.

Easwaran, who was part of India’s Test squad in England earlier this year but dropped ahead of the West Indies series, continues to await his Test debut despite impressive domestic cricket statistics for Bengal. He has scored 8,070 runs in 107 first-class matches at an average of 48.32, including 27 centuries and 33 fifties.
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