Indian cricket legend Yuvraj Singh played a vital role in mentoring current T20I star Abhishek Sharma, helping him focus on cricket and avoid early distractions. According to Yograj Singh, Yuvraj’s father, the former India all-rounder helped bring discipline into Abhishek’s life at a crucial time.
Yuvraj Recognized Abhishek’s Talent Early
Yuvraj first spotted Abhishek Sharma during Punjab’s age-group tournaments. While the Punjab Cricket Association labelled him primarily as a bowler, Yuvraj dug deeper. He discovered that Abhishek had already scored 24 centuries at a young age, prompting Yuvraj to push for his recognition as a batting talent.
“When we saw the record, Abhishek already had 24 hundreds. Yuvi said, ‘Why are you calling him just a bowler?’” revealed Yograj Singh in an interview with Cricket Next.
Late-Night Parties and Distractions Curbed
Yograj shared that Yuvraj took it upon himself to bring discipline into Abhishek’s lifestyle. At a time when Abhishek was reportedly indulging in late-night parties and distractions, Yuvraj stepped in like a mentor.
“Yuvraj said, ‘Lock him. Where are you? It’s 9 PM, go to bed. I’m coming.’ Then he asked to wake Abhishek up at 5 AM the next morning,” Yograj recounted.
Same Discipline Applied to Shubman Gill
Yuvraj’s mentorship wasn’t limited to Abhishek Sharma. Yograj also revealed that Shubman Gill received similar treatment from Yuvraj during his early career. Both players later represented India in the 2018 U19 World Cup and have since become key players in the national setup.
Yuvraj Turned Abhishek Into a ‘Kohinoor’
Praising Yuvraj’s mentorship, Yograj Singh said, “If this diamond had gone into the wrong hands, it would’ve shattered. But when a diamond is guided by another diamond, it turns into a Kohinoor. That’s what happened with Abhishek Sharma.”
Today, Abhishek Sharma is a rising star in Indian cricket, and his journey highlights the impact a mentor like Yuvraj Singh can have on young talent.
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