Former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has opened up on Abhishek Sharma breaking his records amid the T20I series against New Zealand. Yuvraj revealed he didn’t have the luxury to bat in the Powerplay overs, like Abhishek Sharma, as he was a middle order bat.
Singh said his protege is yet to break any of his substantial records. In the third T20I against New Zealand, Sharma completed his fifty off just 14 balls, the second fastest T20I half-century for India after his mentor Yuvraj Singh, who scored a 12-ball fifty against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup.
Yuvraj Singh said on Serving it up with Sania, “Abhishek hasn’t broken any of my records. One record he’s broken. I scored 50 off 29 balls against Pakistan. He scored 50 off 22 or 23 balls. Ek record toda hai (He has broken just one record). I was a middle-order batsman; he’s an opener. Meri field saari bahar hai (The field is spread out for me).”
Singh recalled that he didn’t have any International player guiding him when he was trying to rise through the ranks. The former all-rounder said he learned from his seniors and by playing in Ranji Trophy and International cricket.
“I didn’t have a mentor who had tasted international cricket to understand what it takes to be there. I had good seniors around me. By the time my relationship with Sachin became better, it almost took four-five years to get to know him and understand what he’s trying to tell you. Whatever I picked up from that is that the younger guys, when they’re coming from Ranji Trophy to the international level, they get stuck in between. I thought I could really contribute to that, mentally.
Yuvraj said he had a proper plan for Abhishek Sharma with the help of which the former could play for India. Four years and three months later, Sharma eventually made his debut for the country.
“When I worked with Abhishek or Shubman, Shubman was already playing for India. He was much smarter, more hardworking, and greater work ethic. Abhishek is someone we had to take him there. We had a four-year plan that if you do these things in four years, then with your talent, you could play for India. I’m not here to motivate you to play for IPL. IPL is great, Ranji Trophy is great, but I’m here for you to play for the country. Exactly in four years and three months, he played for India.”
Sharma will look to carry the good show for India in the T20 World Cup.
