How Yuvraj Singh helped Abhishek Sharma’s cricket career

Former cricket star Yuvraj Singh played a pivotal role in transforming Abhishek Sharma’s raw talent into a disciplined career.

New Delhi, 22 April 2025 –

Abhishek Sharma’s recent promotion to the BCCI’s Grade C central contract list for the 2024-25 season marks a significant milestone in his cricket career. However, behind this achievement lies years of mentorship, discipline, and guidance, much of which came from former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh.

Abhishek Sharma, on different occasions, has mentioned Yuvraj for playing a crucial role in his career. From the beginning, Yuvraj recognized Abhishek’s potential and took him under his wing during his teenage years. In a recent interview, Yuvraj’s father, Yograj Singh, shared how his son first discovered Abhishek’s raw talent during age-group tournaments held by the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA).

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Interestingly, when Abhishek first emerged on the scene, PCA had only classified him as a bowler. However, Yuvraj was quick to spot his batting ability. “When we checked Abhishek Sharma’s stats from the PCA, they told us he was mainly a bowler. But Yuvi insisted on reviewing his full record. We couldn’t believe it when we found out that Abhishek had already scored 24 centuries six or seven years ago,” Yograj recalled. “Yuvi wasted no time—he pulled out the stats and said to me, ‘Papa, just look at how well this kid has performed.'”

Yuvraj’s keen eye for talent was just the beginning. His commitment to Abhishek’s development went beyond cricketing skills. Yograj revealed that Abhishek, like many young players, was distracted by the temptations of a lavish lifestyle. “Abhishek’s father was struggling to control his partying and late nights, which were affecting his cricket practice,” Yograj said. “Yuvraj told him, ‘Lock him up. No partying, no late nights.’ I’ve heard him shout, ‘It’s 9 PM. Go to bed! I’m coming in for a check.'”

This hands-on approach from Yuvraj was not an isolated case. Yograj also mentioned how Yuvraj had a similar influence on Shubman Gill, another promising Indian cricketer.