Following the breakout performances in the Indian Premier League, batting sensation Abhishek Sharma didn’t just light up the cash-rich league; he forced the door open into the Indian national team as well. Abhishek’s exceptionally spectacular campaign with SunRisers Hyderabad earned him a well-deserved call-up to the Indian T20I squad, where he has transitioned himself into a six-hitting machine. 

Abhishek's recent heroics at the 2025 Asia Cup further cemented his place as a key cog in India’s white-ball setup. However, according to the legendary Brian Lara, Abhishek Sharma, despite the success in the shortest format, believes his cricketing ambitions go far beyond the T20 stage.

“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," Lara said while speaking at the CEAT Cricket Awards.

"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.

“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,” Lara added.

Abhishek was the highest run-scorer at the 2025 Asia Cup, smashing 315 runs in seven matches. He will next be seen in India's upcoming T20I series against Australia.