Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: Fresh off India's Asia Cup 2025 triumph, opener Abhishek Sharma has opened up about a light-hearted memory from his early days with Shubman Gill. Speaking on the latest episode of Breakfast with Champions, the left-hander revealed how Gill, even as a teenager, had a knack for escaping trouble with his "innocent face."
The incident took place during their Under-16 days in Dharamsala. Abhishek recalled how five players including Gill got into a heated argument with their bus driver after he refused to play Punjabi songs on the way to the ground. Things escalated quickly and later on, the matter reached the coaches.
“There’s one guy who did a lot of mischief in age-group cricket but never got caught and that’s Shubman,” Abhishek said with a grin. “We were all in trouble but when the coach asked the drivers to identify the culprits, they pointed to everyone except him. Shubman was the one shouting the most but he stood there with that innocent face, and the drivers said, ‘No, not him.’”
The other weren't lucky like India's Test captain. Abhishek and his teammates were asked to sign a letter that could have sent them back home. “I was shocked. The one who started it got away. That day I realised he has a real talent - he can change his expressions in a second,” he added.
The Sunrisers Hyderabad star also credited his father for shaping his early career. Calling him a strict but much-needed influence, Abhishek said his father pushed him to stay disciplined and focused. “Even if I got out playing a lofted shot, I wouldn’t sit next to him on the ride home. I’d sit behind,” he joked.
Abhishek while speaking on the show also opened about his close bond with Yuvraj Singh, who has been a mentor to him since his teenage years. He shared that during a difficult phase in his career when consistency eluded him and others like Gill were progressing faster it was Yuvraj's belief that gave him a fresh sense of direction. He recalled, “At that time, I wasn’t consistent. I wasn’t even playing regularly in the IPL. I saw guys I came up with already in the Indian team."
He added, “Then one day, Yuvraj Paji called me and Shubman home for lunch. He told me, ‘I’m not preparing you for IPL or state cricket - I’m preparing you to play for India. You will be in the Indian team in two to three years. Write this down.’”
Those words became a turning point in Abhishek's life as he said, “When your idol tells you he believes in you, it changes everything. I knew then my goal wasn’t just to play - it was to perform and win for India."
That belief has since come full circle as Abhishek didn't only make his T20I debut last year but also finished as the Player of the Tournament in the recently concluded Asia Cup as India lifted its ninth title. This moment came as a validation for both his mentor's vision and his own perseverance.
