Abhishek Sharma’s rise in international cricket has been quite rapid. Batting up at the top, the left-hander has made it a habit of smacking the bowlers all around the ground. Brian Lara, who has watched him from close quarters in Sunrisers Hyderabad as coach in 2023, said he should also find a way to get into the Test team of the Indian side.
“Well, I know Abhishek from SRH. I was there during the COVID times, maybe three or four years ago. And he’s an amazing young player. They had a lot of great young players in that squad that I was with, not just Abhishek. But I think he’s something very special. I think Yuvraj Singh had a big influence on him. His bat speed, the way he hits the ball, the way he hits through the ball,” Lara said on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Rating Awards in Mumbai on Tuesday.
“What’s an amazing thing, you know, he would give me a call and even though with the success that he’s having in T20 cricket, and maybe even in 50 over cricket, he still wants to find a way to get into the test team, which is great for someone like that, to think, you know, that big is very special. So it’s not a soft spot. I think it’s someone who I’ve grown very fond of, his cricket. And it’s great to see that he’s sort of improved and gone into a different level,” he further said.
Another assistant coach Simon Helmot brings up a change Abhishek made last year that has helped in his shot-making ability.
“It’s more about his stance. He’s adjusted and slightly… He’s become more relaxed at the crease, not as tense and rigid. He’s able to access both sides of the ground. He’s able to get in really good positions. Doesn’t over-complicate the way in which he plays. He’s quite still at the point of impact,” he says.
“He plays the ball quite late. He presents a wonderful bat face. His head is in a beautiful, steady position. He watches the ball intently and can get himself in easy positions to be able to access various sides of the ground … It’s more mental for Abhi. He’s always been touted with lots of ability and skill, and now we’re seeing that start to flourish. That comes with mental toughness, a greater understanding of your own game.”
