Abhishek Sharma’s rise to the top tier of Indian T20 cricket is no accident—it’s the product of relentless discipline, early-morning grind, and a hunger to improve that hasn’t dimmed since his childhood. His father, Rajkumar Sharma, recently opened up about the left-hander’s early routine, revealing how Abhishek’s day often began at 4 am as he pushed himself through gym sessions, running drills, swimming and hours of practice. That commitment, Rajkumar believes, is what shaped the cricketer India depends on today.

Abhishek’s breakout season with Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024 accelerated his journey to the national side. Today, he is one of India’s most crucial T20I batters—aggressive, fearless, and central to the team’s run-scoring blueprint. But behind the effortless stroke play lies a life fully consumed by cricket.

“He has done everything he can to constantly improve as a player,” Rajkumar Sharma told The Indian Express. “Even now, if he’s not playing for India or in the IPL, he’s playing for Punjab, or attending camps, or looking for club matches. He just doesn’t stop.”

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His talent was spotted early by Punjab junior coach Arun Bedi and the legendary DP Azad, who once coached Kapil Dev. Bedi recalls seeing something rare in the young left-hander. “At 11 or 12, he would stand and hit sixes off pacers and spinners. The way he lofted the ball… that was unusual for boys his age,” Bedi said.

A significant influence in Abhishek’s cricketing journey has been Yuvraj Singh. Rajkumar admits that despite Abhishek’s success, he remains “scared” of the former India all-rounder—an emotion born out of respect for a mentor who demands excellence. Yuvraj, along with Brian Lara during his SRH stint, also introduced Abhishek to golf, a sport that has subtly improved his batting.

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“It’s helped his bat swing become much cleaner,” Rajkumar Sharma shared. “And whenever Yuvi paaji feels Abhishek has slipped somewhere, he calls and scolds him. Abhishek still gets nervous when that phone rings.”

From 4 am training sessions to becoming India’s T20I mainstay, Abhishek’s journey is a testament to discipline, nurturing, and the guidance of legends who continue to shape his game.