West Indies legend Brian Lara lauded Indian batting sensation Abhishek Sharma, praising his dedication to signify India within the Check area regardless of being probably the most damaging batters in T20 cricket. Lara spoke extremely of the teen throughout an interplay with the media on the CEAT Cricket Rankings occasion in Mumbai on Tuesday, reflecting on his time mentoring Abhishek throughout his stint as Sunrisers Hyderabad’s batting coach within the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Brian Lara speaks on Abhishek Sharma’s Check cricket aspirations for India
Having carefully watched Abhishek’s growth from a promising middle-order floater to a dynamic opener, Lara described him as ‘one thing particular.’ The Trinidadian maestro revealed that he had first labored with Abhishek within the 2021 and 2022 IPL seasons when the left-hander started showcasing glimpses of his uncooked energy and pure stroke-making. Lara credited Yuvraj Singh’s mentorship for shaping Abhishek’s aggressive batting strategy, significantly his bat velocity and talent to dominate bowlers throughout codecs.
“I do know Abhishek from my time with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the course of the COVID interval. He’s an unbelievable expertise—somebody I genuinely admire, Yuvraj Singh has had an enormous affect on his batting type. Even along with his success in T20s and ODIs, he’s wanting to put on the whites for India. That’s the sort of starvation it is advisable see in younger cricketers,” Lara stated to the reporters.
Lara’s reward showcased not solely Abhishek’s fast rise but additionally his ambition to transition from a limited-overs star to a participant able to excelling within the conventional five-day format.
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Abhishek’s constant performances throughout codecs
Abhishek’s meteoric rise in white-ball cricket has made him certainly one of India’s most enjoyable younger prospects. The left-handed opener was instrumental in India’s latest Asia Cup 2025 triumph, accumulating 314 runs in six innings at a blistering strike price of 200, together with three half-centuries. His performances have showcased a really perfect mix of aptitude and composure, attributes that Lara believes can serve him nicely within the longer codecs.
In 2025, Abhishek’s T20I report stands out impressively. He has registered 593 runs in 12 matches at a mean nearing 50 and a strike price above 208, with one century and 4 fifties, together with his breathtaking 54-ball 135 in opposition to England in Mumbai. Throughout 24 T20Is, he has tallied 849 runs at a strike price of 196, highlighting his functionality to affect video games single-handedly.
His consistency has additionally been evident within the IPL, the place partnerships with Travis Head on the prime have rejuvenated Sunrisers Hyderabad’s batting strategy. Over the past two seasons, Abhishek amassed 932 runs in 30 matches at a strike price of practically 200, together with an explosive 141 in opposition to Punjab Kings. His 2024 season was significantly noteworthy, yielding 484 runs, three fifties, and 42 sixes, numbers that positioned him among the many league’s elite performers.
Whereas his limited-overs credentials are nicely established, Abhishek’s first-class report presents glimpses of his red-ball potential. Representing Punjab, he has scored 1,071 runs in 24 matches at a mean of 30.60, together with one century. Lara believes that with technical refinement and persistence, Abhishek has the potential to translate his aggressive instincts into the Check format.
As India prepares for its upcoming T20I sequence in Australia beginning October 29, Abhishek will as soon as once more be on the centre of consideration. For Lara, although, the last word check of the younger star’s journey lies forward, not within the glitz of T20 however within the whites of Check cricket, the place his ambition and talent might script a brand new chapter in Indian cricket’s evolving narrative.
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