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