‘I think Abhishek Sharma should play Test cricket’: Suresh Raina

Former Indian batter Suresh Raina reckons Abhishek Sharma should play Test cricket. Sharma has impressed with his pyrotechnics in the shortest format of the game, and he was the number one T20I batter for a long time.

Abhishek is currently the number three batter in the ICC T20I rankings. Meanwhile, Sharma has scored 1071 runs in 30 first-class matches at an average of 30.60 for Punjab.

Raina was asked by Aakash Chopra on the latter’s Youtube channel whether the era of all-format batters has ended. “Demands have changed. I feel that it is not that relevant anymore. It’s done. Because now different teams are being formed. Look at the ODI. Team India has so many talented players. They can make two teams, they can become different in every format. But this is the future.

“I feel Abhishek Sharma should play Test cricket. Vaibhav is very young. Does he want to play? What do his coaches think? These are questions. I feel he should play. Are the IPL owners and associations also thinking of this and putting Test cricket in players’ minds? Coaches also have a role here,” Raina said.

Abhishek is currently playing in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 league, whereas Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is playing the Duleep Trophy final against South Zone.

On the other hand, Raina said Rishabh Pant has an X-factor in white-ball formats. Pant has sealed his spot in the Test team, but he hasn’t been able to cement his white-ball place.

“He has worked hard. I am very happy. Everyone does well, but he is one of the best. He is my favourite player. He is scoring a lot in Tests. He has that X factor. I think he will mature in white-ball and IPL as well. He has done really well,” Raina said.

Pant recently scored 168 runs in three innings against Sri Lanka at an average of 56.