"Yuvi paaji just gave him a look and the player instantly apologized" - Abhishek Sharma recalls Yuvraj Singh saving him from sledging
Abhishek Sharma has time and again mentioned how he idolizes former Team India star Yuvraj Singh. The youngster recently narrated an incident about the legendary all-rounder saving him from sledging during a Ranji Trophy match for Punjab.
The 23-year-old stated that Punjab had decided to sledge a particular player from the opposition team. Abhishek suggested that according to the plan, he too said something to the player while bowling.
He recalled that when he went to bat, the player gave it back to him by sledging and abusing him. Speaking about how Yuvraj Singh's stare made the player apologize, Abhishek said on the YouTube channel Second Innings with Manjot Kalra:
"I don't remember the name, but there was a player who had scored a hundred against us in that match. We had planned to sledge him a little. You are bound to get angry if a youngster does that to you. When I went to bat, he was standing at short leg and started targeting me. Yuvi paaji was at the other end, he saw that something was bothering me. He asked me about it, and I told him that this guy was abusing me. Yuvi paaji just gave him a look and the player instantly apologized."
Abhishek also shared details of his first meeting with Yuvraj. Stating that he was star-struck seeing his idol in front of him, he recalled:
"I met him for the first time when I made my Ranji Trophy debut. I was 16 at that time. That was his comeback season, where he scored around 800-900 runs. He has always been my idol. In fact, I was inspired to take up the sport after the T20 World Cup win in 2007. I thought that I wanted to bat, bowl, and field like him. He has had a lot of influence on me. I just kept looking at him in the dressing room."
Abhishek Sharma has revealed in many interviews how Yuvraj Singh took him under his wing and has played a major role in his success.
"Whenever there is some confusion or doubt in my mind, I talk to Yuvraj Singh" - Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma further stated that whenever he's in doubt, he reaches out to Yuvraj Singh. He also added that he enjoys training with Yuvraj's father, Yograj Singh.
Elaborating on his bond with Yuvraj, Abhishek said in the same interaction:
"Even now whenever there is some confusion or doubt in my mind, I talk to Yuvraj Singh. I feel like I will get the answers from him. He keeps in touch, even Yograj sir. I practice with Yograj sir and he keeps all the updates. I really enjoy practicing with Yograj sir."
Abhishek Sharma made his Team India debut in the recently concluded five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe. While he was dismissed for a duck in his debut outing, he made amends by delivering a blistering 100-run knock in the subsequent encounter.