World No. 1 T20I batsman Abhishek Sharma has talked about how training under Yuvraj Singh, a former India all-rounder and his idol, changed him. He claims that the experience strengthened his thinking and made him more focused on performing well in crucial games for the national side.
Speaking on JioStar, Abhishek recalled how his close collaboration with Yuvraj Singh during the lockdown period was a pivotal moment in his growth as a cricket player, both psychologically and technically.
“Training with Yuvi paaji (Yuvraj Singh) was a huge moment for me. I had looked up to him since I was a child. He was my idol. He gave me some guidance early on, but we didn’t have much time together. Then came the lockdown. I think Yuvi paaji saw it as an opportunity to work closely with a few players. I was lucky to be one of them,” Abhishek said.
The left-handed hitter also emphasized an important lesson from Yuvraj Singh that profoundly influenced his style of play and self-confidence.
Abhishek said the mentorship gave him a long-term vision for success at the global level and helped him concentrate on succeeding at critical times rather than merely gaining experience at lower levels.
“When our camp began, he said something that truly changed my belief. He told me that the training and mindset we were building was not just for domestic cricket or IPL, and not just for playing a few games for India. He said that he was preparing me mentally to win big matches for India, to play impactful innings, and to deliver with the ball when it matters most,” he added.
Abhishek also talked about how his father and memorable India matches inspired him to become a professional cricket player.
Abhishek claimed that his aspirations were greatly influenced by his upbringing in a cricket-loving family because his father was a coach and a former Ranji Trophy player for Punjab.
“There was a strong cricketing environment at home from the start. My father played Ranji Trophy for Punjab and was also a coach. Watching him inspired me to take up the game,” Abhishek said.
The young batter also recalled how his ambition to represent India at the top level was stoked by watching high-profile international matches, particularly India’s matches against Pakistan and the ICC World Cup.
“When I watched India-Pakistan matches or World Cup games on TV, I felt motivated. I used to think that I wanted to play at that level too,” he added.
