Brian Lara hails Abhishek Sharma as a “very special” talent. Former West Indies captain and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) coach Brian Lara has praised Abhishek Sharma, describing him as a “very special player” and highlighting his ambition to play Test cricket for India.
Abhishek made his international debut for India in 2024 and quickly established himself as a key opener in the T20I side. The left-handed batter is known for his aggressive approach, having scored two centuries and five half-centuries in just 24 T20Is, accumulating 849 runs at a staggering strike rate of 196.08.
The 25-year-old recently grabbed the spotlight during the Asia Cup 2025, hitting three consecutive half-centuries and finishing as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 314 runs in seven matches at an average of 44.86 and a strike rate of 200.0. His exceptional performance earned him the Player of the Tournament award.
Abhishek Sharma Aspires to Play Test Cricket for India, Says Brian Lara
At the CEAT Cricket Awards in Mumbai, Brian Lara praised Abhishek Sharma as a remarkable talent, revealing that the young batsman aspires to represent India in Test cricket. Brian Lara noted that Abhishek is heavily influenced by his mentor Yuvraj Singh and often reaches out to him to discuss his ambitions.
“I’ve known Abhishek since my time at SRH during the Covid years. He’s an incredible young player with something truly special. You can see Yuvraj Singh’s influence in his bat speed, his stroke play, and the way he plays through the line,” Brian Lara said.
“He calls me from time to time, and what impresses me is that despite his success in T20s, he still dreams of breaking into the Test side. For someone to think so big at this stage is exceptional. I’ve grown very fond of him, and it’s amazing to see how much he has improved and the level he’s reached,” he added.
Following his standout performances in the Asia Cup 2025, Abhishek is now preparing for India’s T20I series against Australia later this month. He has been named in the squad led by Suryakumar Yadav, with India set to face Australia in five T20Is from October 29 to November 8.
