NEW DELHI: Former West Indies legend Brian Lara has lavished praise on India’s rising batting sensation Abhishek Sharma, calling him “something very special” and revealing that the youngster’s hunger to play Test cricket sets him apart from the rest.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the CEAT Cricket Ratings Awards in Mumbai on Tuesday, Lara opened up about his admiration for the 23-year-old left-hander, whom he mentored during his stint as Sunrisers Hyderabad’s batting coach in the IPL.

“I know Abhishek from Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). I was there during the COVID times, maybe three, four years ago. He is an amazing young player… He is something very special,” Lara said. “Yuvraj Singh had a big influence on him — his bat speed, the way he hits the ball, the way he hits through the line.”

Lara, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest batters of all time, also lauded Abhishek’s ambition and drive to evolve beyond limited-overs cricket. “Even though he’s having success in T20 cricket and maybe even the 50-over format, he still wants to find a way to break into the Test team, which is great. It is great to see him improve and go to a different level. He is someone I’ve grown very fond of,” Lara added.Abhishek’s recent performances justify the attention. He was instrumental in India’s Asia Cup triumph, smashing 314 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 200, including three half-centuries. The Punjab star, who also enjoyed two prolific IPL seasons alongside Travis Head for SRH, will next be seen in India’s T20I series against Australia starting October 29 — a stage where Lara believes “something very special” is still waiting to unfold.