NEW DELHI: India A’s second unofficial Test against England Lions in Northampton began with a rocky start, as top-order batters failed to deliver under early pressure. The focus of criticism was once again on skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran, whose struggles with form continued in the spotlight.Winning the toss and electing to field, England Lions skipper James Rew made the right call, with seamer Chris Woakes making an instant impact. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!India A openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul began cautiously, trying to negotiate the movement early on. The duo stitched together a slow but steady 28-run opening stand before Jaiswal was trapped lbw by Woakes for 17.Easwaran, walking in at No. 3, was expected to steady the innings, but he faltered again, falling to Woakes for just 11 runs off 13 balls, despite hitting a couple of boundaries. His early dismissal added fuel to the ongoing debate over his readiness for international cricket, with fans and critics alike pointing to his inconsistent red-ball performances.Coming off a commanding double-century in the previous game, Karun Nair looked confident at the crease. Alongside a patient KL Rahul, he began the rebuilding process. The duo guided India A to 75/2 at lunch, forming a 35-run stand.By the end of 62 overs, India A had clawed their way to 253/5, thanks largely to a stunning century by KL Rahul, who scored a dominant 116 off 168 balls, and a steady contribution of 52 from Dhruv Jurel. Nair, however, couldn’t capitalise on his start and was dismissed for 40.
Despite the decent recovery, the narrative remained focused on Easwaran’s repeated failures at a crucial No. 3 position—a role that demands consistency and temperament, especially in the longer format. With selectors keeping a close watch, his latest outing will do little to bolster his case for national selection.
