How Yuvraj Singh moulded Abhishek Sharma into a match-winner for India
From the looks of it, the young Abhishek Sharma has gone from strength to strength. From being a key prospect in the World Cup-winning U-19 team to an IPL sensation and now the brightest star in the Indian T20I setup, Abhishek has a shining record to his name. However, an insight into his journey shows that it has not always been a seamless transition from one successful stint to another. Loss of form and the entailing insecurities, Abhishek has faced it all. The youngster recently opened up on his journey so far on 'Breakfast with Champions' with Gaurav Kapoor. The Indian opener revealed the significant role that Yuvraj Singh played in developing him into one of the sharpest weapons in India's arsenal.
Abhishek Sharma narrates how Yuvraj Singh played a role in making him a match-winner for India
Abhishek Sharma recently wrapped up a blazing run in the Asia Cup 2025. Playing his maiden multi-nation tournament in the Indian blues, the opener emerged as the highest run-scorer in the edition. Scoring 314 runs in seven innings at an average of 44.85 and a strike rate of 200.00, Abhishek was adjudged the Player of the Tournament as the Men in Blue claimed the championship with a five-wicket win in the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 final. While Abhishek's knock in the final was short, the sub-continental tournament saw the opener piling up three fifties in consecutive innings.
The 25-year-old grabbed the limelight with a record-breaking run in IPL 2024 as the opener for Sunrisers Hyderabad. Batting along with Travis Head, Abhishek toppled the IPL charts with his powerplay hitting. While SRH narrowly missed the IPL title to KKR that season, Abhishek entered the India T20I team on the back of his performance. With Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal picked out of the shorter format to focus on the longer format, Abhishek earned the chance to open for India.
Leading up to the Asia Cup 2025, the youngster emerged as the highest run-scorer for the team in the shorter format since the 2024 T20 World Cup victory. Thus, even when Shubman Gill re-entered the scene, Abhishek's spot at the top of the batting order was left untouched. The youngster paid back, justifying the management's trust and emerging as the highest run-scorer in the Asia Cup. Having wrapped up a defining tournament, Abhishek opened up in a candid conversation with Gaurav Kapoor on the 'Breakfast with Champions' show.
Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill, partners right from the start of their career in age-group cricket, are known to be the pupils of Yuvraj Singh. The former World Cup-winning Indian cricketer took the youngsters under his wings, training and preparing them for the bigger stages. Meanwhile, as Gill's career took off, Abhishek's growth was not as swift. The youngster started out in the IPL with Delhi Daredevils before turning to Sunrisers Hyderabad. While Abhishek remained with the team, he did not get regular chances in the playing XI until the 2024 season.
Narrating the highs and lows of his journey, Abhishek Sharma revealed how Yuvraj Singh helped him get out of the slump. As the youngster watched those around his age charge new heights, he turned to Yuvraj to revive his form. Yuvraj, meanwhile, instructed Abhishek that he was not grooming him to be just an IPL sensation. Beyond just earning the India cap, the veteran India cricketer wanted Abhishek to become a proven match-winner for the national team. While still raw in his career, Abhishek has already shown glimpses of the characteristics that Yuvraj inculcated in him.
"I am very grateful. During the lockdown, we would have camps at his place. Me, Shubman, Prabhsimran, Anmolpreet. Basically, I needed it. We were going on a flight and I asked him if we could have a camp for a few days. He told me yes right away. I was struggling a bit at that time, honestly," said Abhishek.
"I was not consistent in the IPL and I was not even in the playing XI. Shubman was already playing for India. I started feeling that I was behind, as people from my age group were doing well already. We were having lunch at his place and paaji told me straight away that he was not preparing me for the state or the IPL or even to get a cap for India. He told me I am making you ready to win games for India. Write this, and it will happen in the next two to three years. After that camp, I realized my goal is something else," he added.
