‘Lock him up…’: Yuvraj Singh took strict steps to discipline Abhishek Sharma, similar situation with Shubman Gill, says Yograj

Former Imdia legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh played a key role in Abhishek Sharma’s journey to success. The Sunrisers Hyderabad batter has now earned his earned his maiden Central Contract as he was placed under Grade C by the BCCI in its 2024-25 annual player retainership.

However, his path to the top hasn’t been easy. Yuvraj Singh, who mentored him from his teenage years, played a crucial role in guiding him. The 24-year-old has consistently credited Yuvraj for shaping his cricketing career.

Yograj Singh revealed that, Yuvraj noticed Abhishek after his impressive performance in various age-group tournaments organised by the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA). When Yuvraj asked for Abhishek’s stats from the PCA, they had him listed as a bowler.

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“When we asked about a list of Abhishek Sharma’s performances from the PCA and the coaches. Do you know what they said? Sir, he is a bowler. He bowls. Yuvi said, ‘You just look at his performance records.’ Yograj told News18 Punjabi

“So, when we saw the record, Abhishek already had 24 hundreds. Yuvi said, ‘Why are you giving wrong information? Why? This man has made 24 centuries’. This was six or seven years ago,” Yograj said

“And when Yuvi sent that record to me, he said, ‘Papa, look at this player.’ I said, look, this is all about sharing the information. This is the problem: some people want to finish the player out of jealousy instead of making their own career,” he added.

Yograj Singh also mentioned how Yuvraj intervened and turned Abhishek’s undisciplined life around by keeping him on the right track. He stopped Abhishek from attending late-night parties and meeting girlfriends at odd hours.

“Late night parties… girlfriend. What happened then? Yuvraj said, ‘Lock him. ‘ He came under Yuvraj Singh’s wings as his father couldn’t handle him. Yuvi shouted, ‘Where are you?’. I heard him shout. ‘It’s 9 pm, go to bed. Do you understand me? I am coming.’ He then handed over the phone and went to bed. Yuvi then told his father to wake him up at 5 am,” Yograj revealed.

Yograj Singh said Yuvraj also handled Shubman Gill’s lifestyle in the same way, “This is exactly what happened with Shubman Gill. But then what happened? When the diamond lands into the hands of another diamond, what becomes of it? It turns into Kohinoor, and that’s what happened with Abhishek Sharma.” Yograj pionted out

“If this diamond had gone into the wrong hands of a spade, it would have broken and scattered. Many players in India broke and scattered,” he said