Following India’s impressive performance in the 2025 Asia Cup, where many players shone, opener Abhishek Sharma garnered significant attention. His outstanding performance throughout the tournament earned him the Player of the Tournament title. However, an unexpected issue has arisen: Sharma cannot bring his prize HAVAL H9 SUV back to India because of legal restrictions.
Sharma’s performance in the Asia Cup was remarkable. He scored 314 runs across seven innings, maintaining an average of 44.86 and a strike rate of 200. His innings included three half-centuries, 32 fours, and 19 sixes. His aggressive starts often gave India an advantage, helping the team secure the title. Although he didn’t score big in the final, his overall tournament performance was exceptional, earning him the luxury HAVAL H9 SUV. This off-road vehicle is known for its robust design and features, but it has now created a problem.
The HAVAL H9, though stylish, is non-compliant with Indian laws. The vehicle is a left-hand drive (LHD) model, while India only permits right-hand drive (RHD) vehicles. Under India’s road safety and vehicle registration act, LHD cars cannot be registered or driven in the country. This is why Sharma cannot bring the SUV to India or use it. Fans were initially puzzled why he left the car behind, but the reason is now clear: the car is not legal according to Indian regulations.
Reports suggest HAVAL might launch an RHD version of this SUV in India by November 2025. If this happens, Sharma may receive a new, road-legal model. However, neither the company nor the organizers have released any official statement yet.