Star India batter Abhishek Sharma’s father, Rajkumar, has narrated how the youngster’s day began at 4 am during his initial days and he would do everything in his capacity to improve as a cricketer, adding
that he is still scared of former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh.
Over time, Abhishek has become one of the mainstays of India’s T20I batting lineup and is the one on whom the run-scoring majorly depends.
One dazzling season with the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024 fast-tracked him into the Indian side and has now become indispensable.
“He has done everything he can to constantly improve as a player. His days started at 4 am, from the gym and exercise to running and swimming. These are things about him that people don’t see,” Rajkumar said while speaking to The Indian Express.
“He (Abhishek) is constantly playing cricket; if not for India or in IPL, then for Punjab or in their camps. If not there, he wants to play club cricket or play in office tournaments (for his employer, Indian Oil),” Rajkumar added.
Punjab junior coach Arun Bedi and DP Azad, who once coached Kapil Dev, spotted Abhishek’s potential. Bedi even told Raj Kumar that the latter and his close friend Shubman Gill would one day play for India.
“Even at the age of 11-12, Abhishek would hit sixes standing and also stepping out against pacers as well as spinners. He would hit sixes with lofted shots, another thing uncommon in boys of his age,” Bedi said while speaking to The Indian Express.
Yuvraj and Brian Lara, who was part of the SRH management, remain close and both have even introduced Abhishek to golf. For him, it has become more than just a way to relax or burn off restless energy; it is another avenue to chase marginal gains.
“It has improved his bat swing, made it cleaner. Even now, when he thinks Abhishek has made a mistake, he will pick up the phone and call and scold him. And Abhishek is scared of him too,” Rajkumar said.
