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STUMP VISION OCTOBER 10, 2025 | The Indian Eye 47

Backed by Legends: How Seniors Shaped

Abhishek Sharma’s Explosive Rise

From his father’s strict coaching to Yuvraj Singh’s mentorship and Suryakumar Yadav’s

belief, Abhishek Sharma’s career has been built on the trust and guidance of senior figures.

OUR BUREAU

Mumbai
hen Abhishek Sharma walked out to
open against Zimbabwe last year, his
Wintent was unmistakable—free-flowing
drives, bold pulls, and an approach that suggest-
ed he belonged. But the honeymoon phase ended
quickly. After a forgettable series against Bangla-
desh, with just 35 runs across three innings, the
young left-hander faced the first real test of his
fledgling international career.
That was when his captain, Suryakumar Ya-
dav, gave him the reassurance every struggling
youngster craves.
“When I got out early against Bangladesh and
other teams for 3-4 innings, Surya told me that I am
so important as a player that even though I score
zero for the next 15 innings, he would get me to
play the 16th match; he was ready to give me that
in writing. It was really big for me that this was the
message from the captain,” Abhishek recalled in a
recent conversation on Breakfast with Champions.
It was a turning point. The fear of failure,
which had crept into his batting, was replaced by a Abhishek Sharma (Agency)
fearless mindset. “I realised that if I wanted to go
more levels higher and make a name for myself, I years at max,’” Abhishek revealed. A former Punjab cricketer, Raj Kumar was strict,
would have to do something different, which in my Those words carried weight. Coming from demanding, and uncompromising when it came to
case is, better and more ball striking. I had stopped someone he had idolised as a child, they instilled discipline.
myself from doing that for a long time because you belief that he was destined for the highest level. “He was a different coach, really, next level
are under pressure to save your wicket. I needed to Yuvraj’s mentoring sessions were meticulous— strict. I would sometimes get so scared that after
trust myself. Even if I get out early, I have to back part nets, part classroom. I got out in a district match or a tournament for
myself throughout the season,” he added. “Last year was a game-changing season 30-40, 60-70, I just could not sit next to him in a car
That trust bore fruit almost immediately.
Abhishek finished as the highest run-scorer in In- for me. We would sit at his home, 6-7 of us, and when he was driving. I used to sit behind so that
talk. We would get assessment papers, listing our
his hand would not reach me. He would scold me
dia’s victorious Asia Cup campaign, smashing 314 strengths and all. He would watch our videos, write about my shots, ‘Yeah, kya kar raha hai tu.’ Padh
runs at an average of nearly 45, proof that belief notes, take screenshots of those videos and com- bhi jaati thi kabhi (slaps sometimes),” Abhishek
and freedom can unlock a player’s best.
pare with how things were earlier for us. No one remembered with a smile.
The Yuvraj Factor knows it, but he is very detail-oriented. He would Yet, it was his father who planted the obsession
be there for 4-5 hours when we would practice in for cricket. The young Abhishek grew up around
ven before Suryakumar’s backing, nets. There was a cook, and food was prepared as bats, trophies, and balls, slowly internalising the
Abhishek’s path was shaped by another tow- per our diet plan,” Abhishek said. dream of making it big. The defining moment
Eering influence—Yuvraj Singh. The 2007 For Yuvraj, who once hit Stuart Broad for six came in 2007 when he watched Yuvraj’s iconic six
World T20 hero and 2011 World Cup winner be- consecutive sixes, batting wasn’t just about talent sixes in the T20 World Cup. That night, he decided
came Abhishek’s mentor during the pandemic, set- but about preparation, discipline, and mindset. he would pursue cricket professionally.
ting goals for him that went far beyond domestic Those lessons are now visible in Abhishek’s fear- Now 25, Abhishek has already established
cricket or the IPL. less yet calculated approach at the crease. himself as a vital cog in India’s T20 setup. His bat-
“Shubman (Gill) was already playing for In- ting is characterised by bold strokeplay, but behind
dia. Shubman and I were having lunch with him. The First Coach it lies years of guidance, belief, and tough love
He (Yuvraj) told me, ‘I am not preparing you for from seniors who invested in his growth. His father
the domestics, or the IPL, or an India cap. I am ong before Yuvraj entered the picture, gave him the foundation, Yuvraj gave him vision
preparing you to win matches for India. I am sure Abhishek was already being molded by his and technique, and Suryakumar gave him confi-
of it, keep it in writing. It would take two to three Lfather and first coach, Raj Kumar Sharma. dence on the international stage.

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