Suresh Raina’s bold blueprint for India: Backs Abhishek Sharma for Test leap, calls Rishabh Pant white-ball ‘X-factor’

Former India batter Suresh Raina has backed Abhishek Sharma for a place in India’s Test setup while insisting that Rishabh Pant remains an X-factor in white-ball cricket despite establishing himself as one of the country’s key red-ball players.

Raina made the remarks while speaking on former India opener Aakash Chopra’s YouTube channel, where he also discussed the development of young players and the importance of encouraging them to consider Test cricket.

Raina wants Abhishek to make the Test leap

Raina believes Abhishek, who has emerged as one of India’s most explosive white-ball batters, has the ability to make the transition to the longest format.

“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 has already featured regularly for India in white-ball cricket and previously held the No.1 position in the ICC T20I batting rankings. While his red-ball numbers are not yet outstanding, he has shown enough promise to suggest that he could develop into a useful Test option.

The left-hander has scored 1,071 runs in 24 first-class matches and 37 innings at an average of 30.60, with one century and five half-centuries. He has also contributed with the ball, taking 20 wickets in the format.

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Raina sees Pant as an X-factor in white-ball cricket

Raina was equally effusive in his praise for Pant, who has become an established part of India’s Test setup but has been away from the limited-overs teams since 2024. Pant has amassed 3,725 runs in 52 Tests at an average of 43.82, including eight centuries and 21 half-centuries. His aggressive approach and ability to change the course of a match have made him one of India’s most influential Test batters.

“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 last played a T20I for India against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on July 28, 2024, while his most recent ODI appearance came against the same opposition in Colombo on August 7, 2024.