Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 8 (ANI): Former West Indies cricketer Brian Lara hailed younger Indian opener Abhishek Sharma, calling him a participant who’s ‘one thing particular’ and identified that regardless of all his success in limited-overs cricket, he nonetheless desires to interrupt into the Indian Check workforce.
Lara was talking to the media on the sidelines of CEAT Cricket Rankings in Mumbai on Tuesday. Having hung out with Abhishek in 2021 and 2022 as a batting coach within the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), the ‘Prince of Trinidad’ watched Abhishek’s development from a floater to a hard-hitting opener paired with Travis Head from shut quarters.
Talking to the reporters, Lara mentioned, ‘I do know Abhishek from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), I used to be there throughout the COVID occasions, perhaps three, 4 years in the past. He’s a tremendous younger participant…He’s one thing very particular. Yuvraj Singh had a giant affect on him, his bat pace, the best way he hits the ball, the best way he hits by way of the ball…Regardless that he is having success in T20 cricket and perhaps even the 50-over format, he nonetheless desires to discover a solution to break into the Check workforce, which is nice. It’s nice to see him enhance and go to a unique degree. He’s one thing I’ve grown to be very keen on.’
Abhishek had a breakout Asia Cup title-winning marketing campaign with India not too long ago, having made 314 runs in six innings at a mean of 44.00 and a strike price of 200, together with three fifties. This yr in 12 T20Is, Abhishek has made 593 runs in at a mean of 49.41 and a strike price of over 208.80, with a century and 4 fifties, together with a 54-ball 135 in opposition to England in Mumbai.
In 24 T20Is, Abhishek has scored 849 runs in 24 matches and 23 innings at a mean of 36.91, a strike price of 196.07, with two centuries and 5 fifties and a greatest rating of 135.
The left-hander has had two extraordinarily tremendous previous two IPL seasons with SRH ever since being paired with Travis. In previous two seasons, throughout 30 matches and 29 innings, he has made 932 runs at a mean of 32.96 and a strike price of over 198, with a century and 5 fifties, together with an explosive 141 in opposition to Punjab Kings (PBKS) this season. His 2024 season, with 484 runs in 16 matches at a mean of 32.26, strike price of over 204, three fifties and 42 sixes, was a breakout one.
The all-rounder has had first rate success in first-class cricket for Punjab, enjoying 24 matches and scoring 1,071 runs in 37 innings at a mean of 30.60, with a strike price of 70.46, a century and 5 fifties and a greatest rating of 100.
He might be seen throughout the tour to Australia from October 29 onwards as part of 5 T20Is. (ANI)