Suresh Raina identifies roles for Abhishek Sharma and Rishabh Pant in India
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 5, 2026, 7:10 PM
Last updated Sep 5, 2026
Former India batter Suresh Raina has advocated for the inclusion of Abhishek Sharma in the national Test setup, citing his potential to adapt to the longest format. Speaking on a YouTube channel hosted by Aakash Chopra, Raina noted that while Sharma has excelled in white-ball cricket, stakeholders including team management and IPL franchises should facilitate his red-ball development. Raina simultaneously identified Rishabh Pant as an essential X-factor for limited-overs cricket. Despite Pant currently serving as an established presence in India's red-ball squad, he has not featured in an ODI or T20I for India since the summer of 2024. Raina emphasized that Pant's aggressive playing style remains a significant asset that could translate well back into white-ball formats as he continues to mature as a professional cricketer.
- •Suresh Raina advocates for Abhishek Sharma to transition into Test cricket for India.
- •Abhishek Sharma maintains a first-class record of 1,071 runs across 24 matches.
- •Rishabh Pant has not appeared in white-ball international matches since August 2024.
- •Raina characterizes Rishabh Pant as an influential X-factor for India across all formats.
- 7:10 PMYahoo Sports — Suresh Raina’s bold blueprint for India: Backs Abhishek Sharma for Test leap, calls Rishabh Pant white-ball 'X-factor'
"Suresh Raina expressed confidence in Abhishek Sharma's potential to succeed in Test cricket. He also highlighted Rishabh Pant as an impressive asset in white-ball formats. Notably, Pant has become a pivotal figure in India's red-ball squad. Raina's insights on fostering player development and promoting Test cricket engagement were shared during an interview on Aakash Chopra's YouTube channel.
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