Former India cricketer Suresh Raina has praised Rishabh Pant following India’s Test series win over Sri Lanka. Raina spoke about Pant’s recent performances and called him his favourite player. He also pointed out what Pant needs to do to take his game to the next level.
India recently won a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. The matches were played in Galle and Colombo. India won the first game and drew the second, securing the series 1-0. Several players delivered standout performances. Manav Suthar impressed with the ball. Devdutt Padikkal was named Player of the Series for his contributions.
Raina heaped praise on Pant during a podcast with Aakash Chopra. He said Pant has worked hard and is one of the best players. He described Pant as having an X factor. Raina noted that Pant is scoring heavily in Test cricket. He also said Pant will mature in white-ball cricket and the IPL as well.
Raina expressed confusion over the absence of Pant from the one-day team. He suggested that Pant might be searching for something or facing a mental blockage. He advised Pant to spend time with someone who can help him figure things out. Raina said Pant should be allowed to be free and can achieve a lot. He added that Pant’s time will come.
Urges India to Give Abhishek Sharma a Chance in Test Cricket
Former India cricketer Suresh Raina believes that Abhishek Sharma should play Test cricket. Raina shared his thoughts during a podcast with former Test cricketer Aakash Chopra. He stated that the 26-year-old should be given a chance in the longest format of the game.
Abhishek Sharma has not yet made his Test debut. However, he has played several first-class matches for Punjab. His performances in domestic cricket have been commendable. As of now, he has played 24 first-class matches. He has scored 1071 runs in 37 innings at an average of 30.60. His record includes one century and five half-centuries. His highest score is 100 runs.
Abhishek has also impressed with the ball in first-class cricket. He has bowled in 27 innings across those 24 matches. He has taken 20 wickets at an average of 49.10. His best bowling performance in a single match is four wickets for 136 runs.
In international cricket, Abhishek has so far only played in T20 Internationals for India. He has scored 1629 runs in 55 innings across 56 matches. He averages 30.73 in the format. His record includes two centuries and 11 half-centuries.
Raina also mentioned young batsman Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the discussion. He questioned whether the youngster wants to play Test cricket and what his coaches think about it. Raina emphasised that coaches and IPL associations should also encourage players to take Test cricket seriously. He urged youngsters to give the longest format the respect it deserves.
Reveals Why He Retired From International Cricket Alongside MS Dhoni
Suresh Raina has revealed the reason behind his decision to retire from international cricket on the same day as MS Dhoni. Both players shared the dressing room for the Indian team and also played together at Chennai Super Kings for over a decade. They retired from international cricket on August 15, 2020. Dhoni made the announcement on X at 7:29 PM IST. Raina followed moments later with his own announcement.
Speaking to former India batter Aakash Chopra, Raina shared Dhoni’s reaction after he informed him of his decision. Raina said that Dhoni was shocked. He went into the dressing room and told Dhoni that it was done. Dhoni responded by asking what he had just done. At the time of the announcement, both players were in the CSK bio-bubble. They were preparing to fly to the United Arab Emirates for the IPL, which was held between September and November that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Raina explained his thought process behind the decision. He said that as a player, you live for the game. He felt that the moment was right to retire. He wanted to spend time with his family. He was 32 or 33 years old at that time.
Raina also opened up about his bond with Dhoni. He revealed that Dhoni sacrificed his batting position so that Raina could bat higher up the order. Raina said that Dhoni used to bat higher up when Sourav Ganguly was captain. However, Dhoni took on the responsibility of batting lower down. He allowed Yuvraj Singh and Raina to bat at the top positions.
FAQs
Q. Who praised Rishabh Pant after India’s Test series win?
A. Suresh Raina praised Rishabh Pant.
Q. What does Raina think Pant needs to overcome?
A. Raina believes Pant may be facing a mental blockage.
Q. Has Abhishek Sharma made his Test debut?
A. No, Abhishek Sharma has not made his Test debut.
Q. How many first-class runs has Abhishek Sharma scored?
A. Abhishek has scored 1,071 first-class runs.
Q. How many T20I centuries does Abhishek Sharma have?
A. Abhishek has scored two T20I centuries.
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