Suryakumar Yadav’s faith in Abhishek Sharma proved to be the turning point in the youngster’s career, helping him shine as the Player of the Tournament in the Asia Cup 2025.
Speaking on Breakfast with Champions, Abhishek recalled how the India T20 skipper backed him despite his early failures at the international level. “When I first played for India, I got out cheaply in three to four innings against Bangladesh. That’s when Surya bhai told me, ‘You are so important for me that even if you get out for 15 ducks, you will still play the next game. I can give that to you in writing,’” Abhishek revealed.
The left-hander said that this reassurance transformed his mindset completely. “It was such a big deal for me. When a captain puts so much belief in you, you feel responsible to prove him right. I realized that if I wanted to make a mark, I needed to back my natural game,” he added.
Also Read: Suryakumar Yadav’s Backing Transformed Abhishek Sharma: “Even 15 Ducks Won’t Drop You”
Sharma explained how shifting to fearless batting helped him rediscover his rhythm. “Earlier, I was holding myself back under pressure, trying to play long innings. But then I decided to play my natural aggressive cricket. Even if I got out early, I would back myself for the entire season,” he said.
That approach paid off in the Asia Cup 2025, where the 25-year-old smashed Pakistan bowlers, dominated the tournament, and climbed to 931 ICC T20I rating points — the highest ever for a T20 batter, surpassing Dawid Malan’s 919 from 2020.
Abhishek also shared a fun memory with childhood friend and India Test captain Shubman Gill. “During our Under-16 days, Shubman did all the mischief but never got caught. He has this innocent face which saved him every time,” he laughed. Their former coach Arun Bedi had even nicknamed them ‘shaant’ (calm) and ‘shaitaan’ (mischievous) — with Shubman being the calm one and Abhishek the naughty one.
Interestingly, the two went on to open together for India in the Asia Cup 2025, combining patience, aggression, and flair to give India explosive starts.
With the confidence of his skipper and his own fearless approach, Abhishek Sharma has now established himself as one of India’s most exciting batting stars in world cricket.
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