"Abhimanyu Easwaran’s two hundreds in the Duleep Trophy should not be overlooked" - Sunil Gavaskar's advice to India for 2024/25 BGT

Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar called on the selectors not to overlook Bengal batter Abhimanyu Easwaran's heroics in the recently concluded Duleep Trophy as they get set for the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Easwaran finished as the second-leading scorer in the 2024/25 Duleep Trophy with 309 runs at an average of 77.25, including two centuries.

The 29-year-old, boasting a solid defensive technique with the ability to score big runs, has been knocking on the Test door in the recent past.

In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar felt the Indian management must consider more top-order batters who can adequately cope with the short delivery in Australia.

"Abhimanyu Easwaran’s two hundreds in the Duleep Trophy also should not be overlooked, for in Australia, India will need players who can play the short ball. It would be better to go with more opening batters in the squad as they can bat not only at the top but also in the middle order," wrote Gavaskar.

Easwaran boasts a sensational first-class record with 7.315 runs at an average of 48.44, including 25 centuries in 97 outings.

Despite playing in only two games during the previous Ranji Trophy, he averaged an extraordinary 168.50 with an unbeaten double-century and two half-centuries.

Meanwhile, India will take on Australia in a five-Test series Down Under, starting at Perth on November 22.

"Might be a good idea for the selectors to encourage Venkatesh Iyer to bowl a bit more in the Ranji Trophy" - Sunil Gavaskar

Hardik's fitness has been a concern for India over the years. [Credit: Getty]

Sunil Gavaskar felt India must focus on developing Venkatesh Iyer as an all-rounder, considering Hardik Pandya's fitness issues.

Iyer was not part of the recent Duleep Trophy but played for Lancashire in the County Championship in England over the past two months. The 29-year-old struggled with the bat, scoring no half-centuries in 11 innings and picked up only three wickets with his medium-pace bowling.

"With Hardik Pandya not yet ready, or so it seems, to bowl more overs, it might be a good idea for the selectors to encourage Venkatesh Iyer to bowl a bit more in the Ranji Trophy. He was not part of any team in the Duleep Trophy, but he is a quality player and a left-handed batter to boot and should be kept an eye on, along with young Nitish Reddy," Gavaskar further wrote.

Iyer has picked up 15 wickets in his 23 first-class games at an average of 34.40 but has fared better with the ball in the wide-ball formats.

The Madhya Pradesh-born cricketer has 68 wickets across List-A and T20 formats with a five-wicket haul in the latter.

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