Being in the present, Abhimanyu Easwaran makes the right noises
Easwaran, 23, shifted from Uttarakhand to Kolkata at the age of 11. © PTI[/caption] "It (captaincy) is a kind of challenge and responsibility. I have to take it up as a challenge and take the responsibility in the coming months and will enjoy it," he says. "I think we have to go through the process (as a team), and the results will be on our side. You can’t focus much on the result right from the start. If you keep the processes right, there are higher chances of the results getting right. So, we will try and focus on small things to get the results in our favour." ALSO READ: It’s mind over matter for Hanuma Vihari Being a captain will not hinder his approach towards his own game, he maintains. "I will have to take the responsibility as batsman from day one, irrespective of being a captain or not. Captaincy is more about the team combinations, but as a batsman I will try to keep up the good work I have been doing," says Easwaran. "I am really happy to have senior players in the team. Right from when I started playing for Bengal I have had their support. With Ashok Dinda and Manoj Tiwary in the team, I am sure they will be of immense help. They have the experience and have played at the highest level, their experience will be a bonus for me." The opening batsman also credits his exposure with India representational sides and cites Rahul Dravid as one of the key elements in his evolution as a cricketer. "I think playing for India A has been a good thing for me," elaborates Easwaran. "I have played in different conditions, different countries and have faced different bowlers who have played international cricket; so that has been a good challenge. I just see how they prepare, how they cope with challenges, the things they do and whatever challenges they face in different conditions and how they tackle them." [caption id="attachment_889613" align="alignnone" width="700"]
Easwaran has played 12 first-class games for India A, averaging 43.61. © IANS[/caption] Easwaran has played 12 first-class matches for India A scoring 785 runs at 43.61 with two centuries and three fifties to his name, including matches in England, New Zealand and the West Indies. "That has been the biggest part of the learning - playing in New Zealand, West Indies, I have gotten to know a lot, how the ball behaves - the dukes balls, Kookaburra and with Rahul sir being there it is always a help. We chat about cricket, how he did things, game plans and everything - it has been good for me," he reveals. One of the things that has stuck with Easwaran during the conversations with Dravid is his advice on how to build a long innings, converting starts and not thinking too far ahead. "He has told me to be in the present and that has been the biggest thing for me; because I was getting starts but was not able to convert them in big scores," he says. "I was getting the 60s and 70 and he told me not to focus on you score, rather try and do what the team needs; basically, what I need to do in the present and that has helped me get the big scores. I am not looking at my score, but see what the team needs and be in the present." The motivation, the drive and the focus of Easwaran stems from his father’s vision to his son play cricket at the highest level. RP Easwaran, a chartered accountant by profession, did his best to provide his son with proper facilities at home. Easwaran worked with the likes of Roger Binny, Ramakant Achrekar and Arshad Ayub at an early age, and with Uttarakhand not affiliated to the BCCI then, the tough decision to move Easwaran to Bengal was made. "It has been beautiful journey so far," he says. "I loved cricket and my father wanted me to pursue it. I went to Bengal when I was 11, been playing here since the Under-16 days and have played at different levels at Bengal, then to India A, Under-23 and I made my Ranji Trophy debut at 18. "There have been a lot of challenges but I have really enjoyed this journey and hopefully I can keep enjoying it. My family has been the greatest support. My mom, dad and sister have been very supportive at all times and that the best part for me in this young age, I hope this continues." Easwaran has come up through the system in another state and has excelled, and now finds himself an earshot away from realising his and his father's dream.