Abhishek Sharma’s Career-Saving Conversation With Suryakumar Yadav Will Leave You Stunned

Abhishek Sharma might be the name on every fan’s lips after his record-breaking Asia Cup, but not long ago he was struggling to make his mark in international cricket.

The left-hander, who scored 314 runs in the tournament and was named Player of the Series, admitted that it took belief from his captain Suryakumar Yadav to turn things around.

Speaking on Breakfast with Champions, Abhishek recalled how Suryakumar backed him despite a poor start in his early matches.

“When I got selected in the Indian team, I got out early in 3-4 innings in the series against Bangladesh. He told me, ‘You’re such an important player for me that even if you get out for 15 ducks, you’ll still play the next game. I can give it to you in writing’. I asked him, ‘Paaji, are you sure?’,” Abhishek said.

For the youngster, those words changed everything. “It was such a big deal that the captain was saying this. One thing became clear, if I want to do well and make a name for myself, I have to do something different.”

Abhishek revealed that earlier he tried to hold back his natural attacking game. But after Suryakumar’s assurance, he decided to back his instincts.

“I felt that I was stopping myself because of the pressure to play long. I removed that from my head. Even if I lose my wicket early, I will back myself throughout the season.”

That mindset has worked wonders. The 25-year-old smashed runs consistently in the Asia Cup, scoring over 30 in six matches and only missing out in the final against Pakistan.