Brian Lara reflects on T20I star Abhishek Sharma’s dream of wearing the white Test kit for India

West Indies legend Brian Lara He praised the Indian batting sensation Abhishek SharmaPraising his insistence on acting India In the Test arena though he is one of the most devastating batsmen in T20 cricket. Lara paid tribute to the youngster while interacting with the media at a CEAT Cricket Ratings event in Mumbai on Tuesday, reflecting on the time he spent mentoring Abhishek during his stint as coach. sunrise hyderabadBatting coach in Indian Premier League (IPL).

Brian Lara talks about Abhishek Sharma’s ambitions in Test cricket for India

Having closely watched Abhishek’s development from a promising middle-order player to a dynamic opener, Lara described him as “Something special. The Trinidadian maestro revealed that he first worked with Abhishek in the 2021 and 2022 IPL seasons when the left-hander started showing glimpses of his raw power and natural stroke making. Lara credit Yuvraj SinghAbhishek’s guidance to shape Abhishek’s aggressive batting style, especially his bat speed and ability to control bowlers across formats.

“I know Abhishek from my time with Sunrisers Hyderabad during the coronavirus period. He’s an incredible talent, someone I really admire, and Yuvraj Singh has had a massive influence on his batting style. Even with his success in T20s and ODIs, he is keen to wear white for India. This is the kind of hunger you should see in young cricketers“, Lara told reporters.

Lara’s praise not only demonstrated Abhishek’s meteoric rise but also his ambition to go from a limited-overs star to a player capable of excelling in the traditional five-day format.

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Abhishek’s consistent performance across formats

Abhishek’s meteoric rise in white-ball cricket has made him one of India’s most exciting young prospects. The left-handed opener was useful in India’s last match Asia Cup 2025 Victory, accumulating 314 runs in six innings at a strong strike rate of 200, including three half-centuries. His performances showed the perfect blend of flair and composure, traits that Lara believes can serve him well in the longer formats.

In 2025, Abhishek’s T20I record stands out as impressive. He scored 593 runs in 12 matches at an average close to 50 and a strike rate above 208, with one century and four fifties, including a stunning 54-ball 135 against England In Mumbai. Across 24 T20Is, he has scored 849 runs at a strike rate of 196, highlighting his ability to impact games on his own.

His consistency has also been evident in the IPL, where partnerships with Travis Head Above they have revamped Sunrisers Hyderabad’s batting style. Over the past two seasons, Abhishek has amassed 932 runs in 30 matches at a strike rate of close to 200, including an explosive 141 knocks against Kings of Punjab. His 2024 season was particularly noteworthy, as he hit 484 runs, three fifties and 42 sixes, numbers that placed him among the league’s elite performers.

While his limited overs credentials are well established, Abhishek’s first-class record offers glimpses of his red-ball potential. Representing Punjab, he scored 1,071 runs in 24 matches at an average of 30.60, including one century. Lara believes that with technical improvement and patience, Abhishek has the ability to translate his aggressive instincts into the Test format.

As India gears up for the upcoming T20I series in Australia Starting October 29, Abhishek will once again be in the center of attention. For Lara, though, the ultimate test of the young star’s journey lies in the future, not in the glamor of T20 but in the whiteness of Test cricket, where his ambition and ability could write a new chapter in the evolving story of Indian cricket.

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