Yuvraj Singh compares Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to Abhishek Sharma, offers to mentor teenage star

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has expressed his desire to mentor teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, comparing his potential to that of India opener Abhishek Sharma and describing the youngster as “a serious player in the making.”

Speaking on JioStar, Yuvraj said he would like to work closely with the 15-year-old, just as he has done with Abhishek, who has enjoyed a rapid rise in international cricket under his guidance.

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“I always call myself a Terminator. Now there is Terminator 4, Abhishek Sharma, who is four times better than me. And after him comes Terminator 6, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has evolved even more. I did my part in my time, Abhishek elevated it, and now Vaibhav is setting new standards. This is the third phase of the same journey. It is great to see the sport evolving,” Yuvraj said.

Drawing a comparison with tennis stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, Yuvraj said the next generation of cricketers is similarly redefining the game.

“When I watch Sinner and Alcaraz, I see how tennis is changing. I see the same evolution in Abhishek and Vaibhav. I have spent a lot of time training Abhishek, and I would love to spend time with Vaibhav as well. He has a great career ahead of him. He is a serious player in the making, and I believe he will get there.”

Sooryavanshi recently announced himself on the international stage after making his senior India debut in the T20I series against England. Earlier this month, he also broke Yuvraj’s long-standing record for the fastest List A fifty by an Indian, racing to the milestone in just 11 balls during the India A vs Sri Lanka A Tri-Series final in Sri Lanka.

Sooryavanshi calls Yuvraj his idol

On Sunday, Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma joined Yuvraj at the All England Club to watch the Wimbledon 2026 men’s singles final between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.

Reflecting on the experience, the teenage batter described meeting Yuvraj as a dream come true.

“Yuvi Paaji is my idol too. Meeting him for the first time was a special moment. I got to spend time with him and he shared a lot of insights about the game.

“He spoke about the mental side of the game, how to handle pressure, and the importance of believing in yourself. It feels great to have so much to learn from someone like him. I am sure it will help me a lot in my career going forward.”

Every champion starts with an idol. 💙#VaibhavSooryavanshi and #AbhishekSharma open up about their admiration for #YuvrajSingh, sharing what it means to learn from one of India’s greatest match-winners!

A special Wimbledon conversation that brings together an icon and two of… pic.twitter.com/eqDLGkkGVY

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 12, 2026

Abhishek, who has often credited Yuvraj for shaping his career, said he could relate to Sooryavanshi’s excitement.

“I can feel what Vaibhav is feeling right now because Yuvi Paaji is my idol as well. I remember when I first met him, it was kind of the same feeling that he’s feeling right now. So obviously, watching my first Wimbledon, and that too the finals, with Yuvi Paaji and Vaibhav, it’s a special day for me.”