Abhishek Sharma, in a BCCI video, revealed that Yuvraj Singh, his mentor, was surprisingly pleased when he made a duck on his T20I debut against Zimbabwe.
Despite this setback, Abhishek went on to smash a stunning century (100 off 47 balls) in the next game, leading India to a commanding victory.
“I spoke to him yesterday,” Abhishek said in a video posted by BCCI. “I don’t know why he was so happy when I got out on zero. He said it’s a good start, just like my family.”
Abhishek credited Yuvraj Singh, a key figure in India’s 2011 World Cup triumph, for shaping not only his cricket skills but also guiding him off the field. He expressed gratitude to Yuvraj for his mentorship over the past few years.
“It’s all thanks to him, the effort he’s put into shaping me, both on and off the field,” Abhishek said. After his century, Yuvraj congratulated Abhishek, saying, “Well done, very proud of you. Many more innings like this to come.”
Reflecting on India’s comeback after the initial loss, Abhishek noted, “We didn’t have much time to dwell on the defeat, which worked in our favor. Today was my day, and I wanted to see the game through to the end.”
Abhishek partnered with Ruturaj Gaikwad (77 not out off 47 balls) for a crucial 137-run stand for the second wicket. He emphasized his intent to express himself freely in the game, with encouragement from his teammate Ruturaj Gaikwad.
He also thanked his India captain and Punjab teammate Shubman Gill for lending him his bat, which proved crucial for his performance.
“This bat has been lucky for me since the U-14 days,” Abhishek joked. “Shubman doesn’t give it easily, but whenever I’ve used it, I’ve performed well. Today was no different.”
Source: NDTV
