Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma has credited Yuvraj Singh for playing a key role in shaping his mindset, saying that training with his childhood idol helped him prepare for high-pressure cricket at the top level.
The 25-year-old has been in excellent form in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, scoring 380 runs in eight matches, including a century and three fifties, and is among the leading run-scorers in the tournament.
Abhishek said working closely with Yuvraj during the Covid-19 lockdown turned out to be a key moment in his development. “Training with Yuvi paaji 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. 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,” Abhishek told JioStar.
He also spoke about his early days in cricket and how his family played a big role in shaping his interest in the sport.
“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. 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 said.
Abhishek added that he realised his potential at a young age, which encouraged him to pursue cricket seriously. “I was quite young when I first started enjoying both, batting and bowling. Then came an Under-12 tournament. I performed well there, scoring plenty of runs and picking up wickets. That’s when I realised I had the talent to take up cricket seriously.”
Now an established IPL player, Abhishek described the league as a major learning platform where he continues to grow by competing with and against top players. “The IPL brings together the best cricketers from around the world. It is the number one T20 league. Getting an opportunity to play here feels like a blessing. I treat every IPL season as a learning experience. Playing alongside and against these top players teaches you so much.”
He also credited his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate Travis Head for influencing his batting approach, particularly in adopting a more attacking mindset.
“I have been following Travis Head’s game for a year and a half before he joined SRH. I was happy when he became my teammate. The first thing I asked him was about his batting mindset. I admire how he performs in all three formats and dominates the bowling. He told me his plan is simple: watch the ball closely, and if you feel you can hit the first delivery, go for it. I followed his advice in my practice before the IPL. Now, if the ball is in my slot, I look to hit it from the first ball,” he said.