Bekkenham: Team’s partner Abhimanyu Ezvaran, along with India’s captain Shubman Gill, comes for a training session ahead of the fourth Test cricket match between India and England, which is in a county ground in County Ground, Bekenham, England. (PTI Photo/R. St.hilkumar) (PTI07_17_2025_000114a)

Top-order batsman Abhimanyu ezavaran India’s line-up was not selected for the fifth Test against England, which expands their wait for Test debut for 961 days since being selected in the Indian Test team. Easwaran did not get a chance in the ongoing test series against England, nor in the final edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series. The Indian team made four changes in their lineups for the final test, including Karun Nair, Dhruv Jurall, Prasad Krishna and Akash Deep.“I am not counting the number of days that Abhimanyu is waiting for the beginning of his test. I have been counting years; it has been three years now. What is a player’s job? This is to score runs. He has done so. People said that they did not perform in two India A matches during Australia’s last tour and did not come in the team, which is quite appropriate. But Karun Nair was not in the team during the period when Abhimanu performed before BGT. Karun was not selected for the Dalip Trophy or the Iranian Trophy. When Abhimanyu considered a period from last year to the current year, Abhimanyu scored 864 runs, “Abhimanyu’s father Ranganathan Isavaran said in a special conversation with Timesopyndia.com.He said, “Then how they compare? I did not understand. He gave Karun Nair a chance. Quite appropriate, he scored more than 800 runs. The selectors believed him,” he said.Ranganathan said that he is interacting with Abhimanu during the ongoing test series against England and providing the words of incentive.

“My son looks a bit sad, but is bound to happen. Some players jump guns based on IPL performance that earn him a place in the test team. IPL performances should not be counted when selecting the team for the longest format. The Ranji Trophy, the Dalip Trophy and the Iranian Trophy should be the basis of selection, “he said.Former India cricketer Arun lalThose who had previously worked as the head coach of the Bengal cricket team, said that he is fully surprised by Abhimanyu’s non-selection for such an extended period.

“I don’t know why he is not being raised in a lineup. For so long. Abhimanyu is performing well and performing continuously. The team management does not have much faith in him, “Lal said.Abhimanyu coach Vijaykumar Madhyakar called the cricketer’s preparation “luxurious” for the Test series against England, saying that he was waiting for an opportunity to play eagerly.“He asked for specific bouncy tracks to interact on speed and swing. Abhimanyu would bat for two hours in the morning and an hour in the evening, stopping his normal fitness and gym schedule. He was ready to negotiate for any challenge.India is currently 1-2 behind in the five-match Test series against England. Both teams are remembering high-profile players with a remarkable lapse with Joffra Archer, Ben Stokes and Jasprit Bumrah.

Kuldeep Yadav (Getty Image)

New Delhi: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has strongly criticized Kuldeep YadavNon-selection during the five-match test series against England, stating that the wrist-spinners should have been painted in the second, third and fourth tests, especially India’s struggle was given to take 20 wickets on flattery tracks.Live Score: India vs England 5th TestIndia fielded a bowling lineup of three pacers and two spin-bouling all-rounders once again in the fifth and final test at the Oval, dropping Kuldeep from the XI playing for the fifth direct match. Ganguly said that in the absence of quality spin, it is difficult to compel to win in long -term stronghold competition, especially on 5 surfaces.Go beyond the border with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Ganguly said during a press interaction in Kolkata, “Without quality spin, you will struggle to take out the teams five days of a match.” “He (Kuldeep) should have been played in Manchester, Lords and Birmingham. In Manchester, India batted for the last day, and the pitch was thick and twisted, but England could not get wickets as they did not have quality spin.”

Ganguly argued that the oval pitch may have affected India’s selection call. “England has gone with four pacers and no frontline spinner, which is probably more grass on the surface. That is why Kuldeep did not play,” he said.

Kuldeep has an impressive record against England, which includes 21 wickets in an average of 22.28, including five wickets. Nevertheless, he has not painted in the same test since October 2024. His overall test strike rate of 37.3 is best among spinners with at least 50 wickets, but he remained low in seven years with just 13 trials.Ganguly highlighted that the previous successful sides were the spinners winning matches such as Muralitharan, Kumble, Swan and Ashwin, which were important for days 5 successes.On lunch at 1 of the fifth Test, India was 72/2, with Sai Sudarshan (25*) and Shubman Gill (15*) unbeaten. England won the toss and elected to the field. The hosts extended the series 2–1.