In cricket the mentor-mentee relationships can play a significant role in the development of a player. But an ideal example is the Yuvraj Singh-Abhishek Sharma duo as Singh known for his demanding nature, has left a mark on young opener Abhishek Sharma since he was promoted through various Indian cricket ranks by Singh himself. Abhishek journey hasn’t been a cakewalk either. The case was different in Zimbabwe last July when he began with T20I. It did not go so smooth for him then Debuting in the inaugural match he drew a duck against Zimbabwe.
instead of getting low and depressed over this miserable performance, Yuvraj treated it as a good start. “He said it’s a good start,” said Abhishek his eyes glittering with reverence for the wizardry that Yuvraj has in his head. This apparently worked for Abhishek as well and he came roaring back to script a blazing 47-ball hundred on the very following day. This victory made him the quickest Indian to plunder a T20I century in terms of innings therefore giving extra value to Yuvraj mentorship.
Jump forward to a recent match against Bangladesh and Abhishek was again tasked with stepping into the field after an absence of two months. The match provided the perfect opportunity for him to keep moving on the momentum scale specially while chasing 128 runs. Poor luck saw his promising innings ended with a run-out for 16 runs. The run-out was a result of a small lapse in communication with his opening partner, Sanju Samson. He took out the shot towards mid-wicket and set off for a quick single. This brought out Towhid Hridoy direct hit off him which left Abhishek short of his crease after just seven balls at the crease.
The match was won comfortably after the game; Abhishek posted a few pictures on his Instagram account. He captioned them as “Every run, every ball – it’s all for the team But what shocked one and all was the cheeky retort Yuvraj gave to a fan who commented on that post:. The fan is convinced that a big innings is soon going to be notched up by Abhishek to which Yuvraj laughingly retorts, “Only if we apply our brains properly. A light-hearted exchange between the two highlights the bonhomie they share and how Yuvraj always manages to psyche Abhishek out.
This is much more than a coaching relationship it is a mutual respect and understanding between them. After scoring the first T20I century much of the credit, Abhishek said, goes to none other than Yuvraj. I spoke to him yesterday, and he said he was very happy when I got out on zero. He mentioned that it was a good start,” he recalled with a smile. “I think he must be very proud of me just like my family. He thanked Yuvraj for working hard on his abilities-be it cricket or personal development For the past two three years, he has really worked hard not just on my game but off the field as well.
It Important that you get big Scores if you Want to Compete: Yuvraj
For the last two-three years Yuvraj Singh has been guiding young Abhishek Sharma as his protégé. He has culminated what he started into a strong and solid mentor-student bond as Yuvraj, a former Indian all-rounder has been working tirelessly to hone Abhishek’s batting skills. Since his beginning of T20I against Zimbabwe in July Abhishek Sharma spoke about Yuvraj influence that has had on his cricketing life.
Where Yuvraj counsel acquires significance is when Abhishek was looking to leave an indelible mark at the international level. While giving glimpses of excellent performances- a case in point being IPL 2024 with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Yuvraj felt that Abhishek needed to translate promising starts into meaningful scores. His performance has definitely improved and his strike rate has been phenomenal,” Yuvraj noted while speaking about the young batsman ability to score quickly. But he said that such a strike rate cannot be a minimum requirement for a player to remain a regular in the Indian side. but there needs to be a couple of big knocks to ensure you are a valuable asset for India,” he added, as quoted by Cricbuzz.
While that explosive performance marked the potential of Abhishek. it also marked the inconsistency that often haunts young cricketers. Since that memorable hundred. he has not been able to repeat performances of the same scale in international matches which raises a question about his capacity to sustain his game. Yuvraj has understood this inconsistency and has been pushing Abhishek to not just depend on his ability but also build a mindset that focuses on building innings.
The pressure to perform at the international level is extreme specially for someone like Abhishek who is competing against some of the best talents in the country. Yuvraj role as a mentor will help him tackle all these challenges. Experience from the former star helps give inputs beyond technical skills because it goes down to the mental toughness required for peak moments.
As Abhishek grows Yuvraj continues to push him forward encouraging him to look at his game in a much better holistic way. It is not just a question of working with the batting but also of strengthening his mental framework. Always push yourself and learn from every experience,” says Yuvraj while attaching paramount importance to facing defeats.
The period spent with the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024 has gone to contribute plenty to Abhishek’s growth. In a league that encourages talent and competitiveness, Abhishek had faced some of the world finest bowlers thereby sharpening his edge. But what is always missed has been translating this kind of form into international formats.
Yuvraj Singh in talks to Gujarat Titans coaching staff
The Guajaratis are likely to witness a sea change in their coaching staff with buzz suggesting head coach Ashish Nehra and Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki might be leaving the franchise. This news was generating many ripples in the cricket fraternity the first being speculation that former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh may make his entry as a coach.
Yuvraj appointment would be a great hallmark as the team head coach for Gujarat Titans because it would be a first-time fulltime berth for him. Fans and players are pumped over the prospect of the 42-year-old legend taking up a new role specially given his recent success mentoring prospects like Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. His mentoring work has been indispensable in guiding these young players to perfection and in bringing them into the international fold as contributory members.
The journey of Yuvraj from a celebrated player to a prospective coach says much about his deep understanding of the game and the ability to inspire people. His playing career was characterized by explosive batting and strategic acumen. which qualities could precisely be translated effectively into coaching. Observers believe that his experience coupled with innovative approach to the game could give some fresh perspective to the Titans and rejuvenate the dynamics of the team.
The alleged coaching revamp would mark a very crucial time for the Gujarat Titans team, which will hold immense hopes to carry forward the momentum of previous IPL campaigns. Nehra and Solanki are said to leave the unit and the franchise would seek to infuse a fresh vision for the future of the team. The change in this instance would thereby help to bring in fresh ideas and strategies into this group that could help towards better performance and in sharper team cohesion.
Cricket fans are enthusiastic to know how Yuvraj would apply his coaching philosophy. So far the coach has always emphasized mind-strength and adaptability -precisely what professional cricket requires in order to bring out the best from a cricketer. If appointed, then he would induct exactly those values among the players for the Titans team to face challenges and keep one wits about them.
More importantly the promise of Yuvraj with Titans may also make it an attraction factor for other young cricketers eager to hone their game under the tutoring of a strong international star. His popularity and rapport with the youth might also help in developing a robust team culture founded on trust and collaboration. Fans are longing for a leader like him to bring out the best of each player, polish their skills and present them as a better product at hand, ultimately helping the franchise be successful.
