Abhishek Sharma lit up the Wankhede stadium with his batting blitzkrieg in the fifth T20I against England on February 2. Abhishek Sharma cracked a blistering 135 runs off 54 balls in India's massive 150-run win over England. Yuvraj Singh's mentor made top speedster like Jofra Archer look like any ordinary bowler with his explosive batting as he marked his second T20I century. Sharma's innings was a display of raw power, as he dispatched the English bowlers to all corners of the ground.
Following his incredible innings, the star southpaw attributed his success to the guidance and support of legendary Indian all-rounder, Yuvraj Singh, who also happened to be his mentor. He revealed Yuvraj's crucial role in instilling the belief that he could one day represent his country. Both players share a connection to Punjab, and Yuvraj has served as a mentor to Abhishek for several years, playing a big part in his growth as a cricketer. Sharma's batting style, particularly his effortless power hitting, often draws comparisons to Yuvraj.
Abhishek Sharma credits Yuvraj Singh for shaping his career
For his exceptional all-around performance, Abhishek was named Player of the Match. During the post-match press conference, he was questioned about Yuvraj Singh's impact on his career. Abhishek stated that Yuvraj Singh was the one who put all these things in his mind three-four years back and believed in him.
“Yuvi Paaji (Yuvraj Singh) was the one who put all these things in my mind three-four years back. He was the one who believed in me, I would say," Abhishek said in the post-match press conference.
"Obviously, when someone like Yuvraj Singh is telling you that you are going to play for the country and you’re going to win the matches. You obviously yourself try to think all these things that okay ‘I will play for India and I will do my best’,” he further added.
Two-time World Cup winner Yuvraj was renowned for his ability to perform under pressure and deliver crucial performances in major tournaments. His contributions were instrumental in India's triumphs in both the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup.Abhishek, reflecting on his relationship with Yuvraj, also talked about the profound impact the veteran all-rounder has had on his cricketing journey. He revealed that he maintains regular communication with Yuvraj, discussing his performances after every match. Abhishek expressed his deep trust in Yuvraj's guidance, highlighting the strong bond they share.
“He has played a major role in my cricketing career. As I’ve told before also, it’s all because of him because the way he has treated me in the past and every innings He’s someone who’s always there for me, I always talk to him after every game. He’s the one guy I’ve always listened to and I think he knows better than me so I believe that," Abhishek concluded.
It was Abhishek's explosive innings which was decorated with 7 fours and 13 sixes, which helped India post a colossal total of 247/9. He didn't stop there, he also went on to notch two wickets to bundle out England for a paltry 97 runs. Abhishek finished as the highest run-scorer with 279 runs in 5 matches, averaging 55.80 and boasting a phenomenal strike rate of 219.68.
