Suresh Raina discusses Rishabh Pant and Abhishek Sharma

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has shared his perspectives on the development and roles of several young Indian players.

Raina expressed support for Rishabh Pant to return to India’s white-ball cricket setup. While noting Pant’s success in Test matches, Raina suggested that the wicketkeeper-batter needs to overcome mental blockages and play with more freedom to replicate his form in ODIs and T20Is. He highlighted Pant’s “x-factor” and suggested that pacing innings more effectively could help his transition back to limited-overs formats.

Additionally, Raina advocated for explosive opener Abhishek Sharma to participate in Test cricket. He questioned whether IPL owners and state associations are sufficiently encouraging players to pursue the longest format of the game. Raina also noted the youth of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, questioning the readiness of such young players for the rigors of red-ball cricket.