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Abhishek Sharma credited Yuvraj Singh’s backing even during moments when the young southpaw doubted his own abilities.
Yuvraj Singh (L) mentored Abhishek Sharma (R). (Image: AFP, Sportzpics)
Following his explosive knock at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, star opening batter, Abhishek Sharma revealed how his mentor, the legendary Indian all-rounder, Yuvraj Singh had expressed his belief in the youngster and his ability to win games for the country.
The youngster had smashed the highest individual score by an Indian batter in T20 internationals with 135 off just 54 deliveries to help India set a target of 248 for England in the fifth and final T20I. He shared that there were moments where he doubted himself but Yuvraj had always maintained belief in his game.
“As a player, there are moments of doubt about whether you’ll ever represent your country. But Yuvi Paaji (Yuvraj Singh) has always believed in me. He used to say, ‘One day, you’ll play for India and win matches, so I’m preparing you for that.’ That belief kept me going,” said Abhishek to Disney+ Hotstar.
He also shared that he always wants to deliver knocks as he had done on Sunday and had gotten more confident after being backed by the captain and the coach, following his recent failures.
“I always manifest such innings, and finally, it happened. The backing from the coach and captain gave me a lot of confidence. They have always encouraged me to play my natural game, even when I failed in a few matches. So, when your captain and coach back you, as a youngster, that’s your biggest motivation,” he shared.
The West Indies batting legend, Brian Lara had also imparted some bits of wisdom for the Indian southpaw which resulted in his approach where he started cautiously and then began going after the bowlers once he was confident.
“Brian Lara sir once told me, ‘If you hit 100 sixes in practice but keep losing your wicket in matches, it’s of no use.’ That advice stuck with me, and I always try to play with the right intent. All three senior players—SKY, Hardik, and Axar bhai—advised me to take my time, focus on playing proper cricketing shots, and complete my century,” he commented.
He concluded by expressing his delight in performing in front of his family, which according to him made the performance even more special.
“It was a really special knock because my mom and sister were here. There’s no greater feeling than performing in front of your family,” he concluded.
