Yuvraj Singh Sees Abhishek Sharma as India’s New Aggressive Weapon, Credits Gambhir’s Support

Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh has praised young left-handed batter Abhishek Sharma for his fearless and aggressive batting, drawing parallels to his own career under former coach Gary Kirsten. Speaking to PTI, Yuvraj highlighted how structured support from team management plays a key role in nurturing attacking players.

“The fearlessness comes with backing from the coach and captain,” Yuvraj explained. “When leadership allows you to play your natural game, it gives you the freedom to express yourself. That’s what I experienced with Gary Kirsten, and now Abhishek is getting similar support under Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav.”

Yuvraj noted that this environment allows players to embrace calculated risks without being burdened by the fear of failure. “The confidence that Gautam and Suryakumar have given him—go and play your game, and you will put India in a winning position—that is exactly what Abhishek is doing,” he added.

This approach reflects a philosophy of prioritising impact over mere consistency. Just as Yuvraj often focused on match-winning contributions rather than cautious accumulation of runs, Abhishek Sharma is encouraged to play aggressively, with management understanding that failure is part of the process.

According to Yuvraj, this represents a broader evolution in Indian cricket, where natural talent and attacking intent are nurtured rather than constrained. “It’s not just about statistics; it’s about allowing a player to express themselves fully for the team’s success,” he said.

Abhishek Sharma, already known for his power-hitting in powerplays, is now benefiting from a system that mirrors the supportive, risk-tolerant environment that helped Yuvraj flourish during India’s dominant white-ball era under Kirsten. This could mark the beginning of a new wave of aggressive, fearless cricket for India in limited-overs formats.