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

Abhishek tests white ball pants (Agency Images) Former India batsman Suresh Raina has backed Abhishek Sharma for a place in India’s Test setup while insisting that Rishabh Pant remains the X-factor in white-ball cricket despite establishing himself as one of the country’s key red-ball players.Raina said this 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 take the Test leap

Raina believes that Abhishek, who has emerged as one of India’s most explosive white-ball batsmen, has the ability to switch 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? Those are the questions. I feel he should play. Are the IPL owners and associations also thinking about it and putting Test cricket in the minds of the players? Coaches have a role to play here as well,” 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 aren’t outstanding yet, he’s shown enough promise to suggest he could develop into a useful Test option.The left-hander 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 also contributed with the ball as he took 20 wickets in the format.

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

Raina was equally effusive in his praise of Pant, who has become an established part of India’s Test set-up but has been out of limited-overs teams since 2024. Pant 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 made him one of India’s most influential Test batsmen.“He has worked hard. I am very happy. Everyone is doing well but he is one of the best. He is my favorite player. He is scoring a lot in Tests. He has the X factor. I think he will mature in the 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 28 July 2024, while his last ODI appearance was against the same opposition in Colombo on 7 August 2024.