Abhishek: Yuvraj told me he was preparing me mentally to win big matches for India

Opener Abhishek Sharma is a key figure in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s strategy of winning their second IPL trophy. The southpaw has been in tremendous form for Sunrisers this season and is looking forward to seeing his side lay their hands again on the coveted trophy this year.

Abhishek bared his soul when speaking on JioStar’s Dream On show. He spoke about various things like the impact of training with Yuvraj Singh and learning from his partner Travis head.

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About what inspired him to take up cricket, Abhishek said: “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.”

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On how he first recognised his ability to play the game, he said: “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.”

Yuvraj Singh 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, said Abhishek Sharma

On his experience of playing in the IPL, the southpaw said: “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.”

Impact of Yuvraj Singh

On the impact of training with former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh, he said: “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,” he said.

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Learning from Travis Head

On learning from Australian Travis Head, Abhishek said: “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.”