west indies legend brian lara Indian batting sensation praised Abhishek Sharmapraised his determination to represent India Despite being one of the most destructive batsmen in T20 cricket in the Test arena. Lara spoke highly of the youngster while interacting with the media at the CEAT Cricket Rating event in Mumbai on Tuesday and recalled his time mentoring Abhishek during his tenure. Sunrisers Hyderabadis the batting coach of Indian Premier League (IPL),
Brian Lara speaks on Abhishek Sharma’s Test cricket aspirations for India
Having closely watched Abhishek’s evolution from a promising middle-order floater to a dynamic opening batsman, 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-handed batsman started showing glimpses of his raw power and natural stroke-making. Credited to Lara Yuvraj SinghHis guidance shaped Abhishek’s aggressive batting approach, especially his bat speed and ability to dominate bowlers across all formats.
,I have known Abhishek since the time he was associated with Sunrisers Hyderabad during the Covid period. He’s an incredible talent – I really admire him, Yuvraj Singh has had a massive influence on his batting style. Even after his success in T20s and ODIs, he is looking forward to donning the whites for India. You need to see similar hunger in young cricketersLara told reporters.
Lara’s praise not only reflected Abhishek’s rapid progress but also his ambition to transform 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 in all formats
Abhishek’s impressive progress in white-ball cricket has made him one of India’s most exciting young prospects. This left-handed opening batsman played an important role in India’s recent asia cup 2025 win, scoring 314 runs in six innings at a blistering strike rate of 200, which included three half-centuries. His performances have displayed a perfect blend of flair and composure, Lara believes these attributes can serve him well in the longer formats.
In 2025, Abhishek’s T20I record is impressive. He has scored 593 runs in 12 matches at an average close to 50 and a strike rate above 208, including one century and four fifties, including a breathtaking innings of 135 off 54 balls against him. England In Mumbai. In 24 T20Is, he has scored 849 runs at a strike rate of 196, highlighting his ability to single-handedly impact games.
His consistency has also been evident in the IPL, where partnerships with travis head Staying at the top has rejuvenated Sunrisers Hyderabad’s batting approach. In the last two seasons, Abhishek has scored 932 runs in 30 matches at a strike rate of almost 200, including an explosive inning of 141 runs against him. punjab kingsHis 2024 season was particularly notable, with 484 runs, three fifties and 42 sixes, placing him among the elite performers of the league.
While his limited-overs credentials are well established, Abhishek’s first-class record offers a glimpse of his red-ball potential. Representing Punjab, he has scored 1,071 runs in 24 matches at an average of 30.60, which also includes a century. Lara believes that with technical improvement and patience, Abhishek has the ability to adapt his aggressive tendencies to the Test format.
As India prepare for their upcoming T20I series Australia Abhishek will once again be in the headlines from October 29. However, for Lara, the ultimate test of the young star’s journey lies ahead, not in the glitz of T20 but in the glitter of Test cricket, where his ambition and ability could write a new chapter in the emerging story of Indian cricket.
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