Abhishek Sharma, one of India cricket’s most explosive young openers, recently opened up about his early struggles with self-doubt and how he often felt overshadowed by his childhood friend Shubman Gill. While Gill broke into the Indian team ahead of him, Abhishek admitted that the comparison left him questioning his own abilities—until a life-changing conversation with Yuvraj Singh changed his outlook forever.

The left-hander has since silenced all doubts with a remarkable campaign in the Asia Cup 2025, where he emerged as India’s most consistent run-getter. Under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership, Abhishek seized the opportunity at the top of the order, blending fearless intent with remarkable consistency.

His tournament began with intent as he cracked a brisk 30 against the UAE, followed by a bold 31 against Pakistan in a high-pressure chase. He maintained his momentum with a fluent 38 against Oman to finish the group stage with three successive 30s, each played at a strike rate above 190. But the best was yet to come.

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Abhishek truly flourished in the Super Four stage. Against Pakistan, he hammered a breathtaking 74, followed by a commanding 75 against Bangladesh, and capped it with a fluent 61 versus Sri Lanka. Though he fell cheaply in the final, his earlier brilliance had already secured him the Player of the Tournament award. In total, he amassed 314 runs at an impressive average of 44.85 and a staggering strike rate of 200.00, finishing as the competition’s leading run-scorer.

Abhishek Sharma reveals how he was struggling when he had sought Yuvraj Singh’s help to improve his batting.

Yuvraj Singh told him during the training that he was preparing Sharma to win matches for India, not just IPL or simply playing for the Indian Team. pic.twitter.com/Mm4hlFOaMU

— Sensei Kraken Zero (@YearOfTheKraken) October 2, 2025

In a candid chat on Breakfast with Champions, Abhishek Sharma recalled a turning point in his journey. He shared how, during a lunch with Shubman Gill at Yuvraj Singh’s house, the World Cup-winning legend offered him advice that shifted his mindset completely.

“At that time, I was struggling a lot. Even in the IPL, I wasn’t consistent or a permanent part of the XI, while Shubman was already representing India. I kept thinking I was falling behind. Then Paji told me directly: ‘I’m not preparing you for IPL or domestic cricket. I’m preparing you to win matches for India. Write this down—within two or three years, you’ll be there,’” Abhishek Sharma revealed.

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For Abhishek Sharma, those words were transformative. “This was from someone I idolized. If Yuvraj Singh himself had that kind of belief in me, I had no choice but to believe in myself. From that moment, my goal shifted—I wasn’t just playing to survive anymore. I was preparing to deliver for India,” he said with conviction.

Abhishek’s resurgence, coupled with his fearless batting in the Asia Cup, has not only validated Yuvraj’s faith but also positioned him as one of India’s brightest young stars, ready to carve out his own legacy alongside his childhood friend Gill.