Former Indian batter Suresh Raina has picked Rishabh Pant as his favorite Indian player after the Test series against Sri Lanka. While Pant is yet to cement his place in India’s white-ball teams, he is an integral part of the Test team.

Pant recently scored 168 runs in three innings against Sri Lanka at an average of 56. The left-hander scored a fine knock of 66 runs off 69 balls in the second innings to help India strengthen their position in the opening Test. This was the 20th Test fifty for Rishabh Pant. Raina said Pant has worked hard on his game.

“He has worked hard. I am very happy. Everyone does well, but he is one of the best. He is my favorite player. He is scoring a lot in Tests. He has that X factor. I think he will mature in white-ball and IPL as well. He has done really well. I don’t know why he is not there in one-day cricket. Maybe he is still searching for things. He needs to figure it out. Sometimes players have that blockage. If he tries and spends time with someone, he can. Let him be free. He can achieve a lot. His time will come,” Suresh Raina said on podcast with Aakash Chopra.

On the other hand, the former CSK vice-captain urged youngsters like Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to play Test cricket.

“I feel Abhishek Sharma should play Test cricket. Vaibhav is very young. Does he want to play? What do his coaches think? These are questions. I feel he should play. Are the IPL owners and associations also thinking of this and putting Test cricket in players’ minds? Coaches also have a role here,” he said.

Sooryavanshi is currently playing in the Duleep Trophy final against South Africa while representing East Zone. The left-hander scored a quickfire knock of 44 runs off just 37 balls on Sunday in the first innings.