Yuvraj Singh Sends Strong Message To BCCI Selectors Over Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh believes that not regularly picking players like Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the ODI squad does not do “justice” to their immense talent. “I would love to see him (Abhishek) in the ODIs, to be honest, and I have said this before that if we are not picking guys like Ishan Kishan, Abhishek and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in 50-over cricket, then somewhere down the line we are not doing justice to their talent,” Yuvraj told PTI on the sidelines of the launch event of Protocol 32.

It must be mentioned that Yuvraj has been Abhishek’s longtime mentor. Yuvraj, however, said he understands that the presence of senior players in the side makes it a bit difficult for young players to get a look-in.

“I understand we have some great players, and it is hard to make a spot for them. I think the way they (young batters) are performing, hopefully they should be in the squad soon. Whatever he (Abhishek) has achieved is because of his hard work, and the credit goes to him,” he added.

VIDEO | Mumbai: Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh believes that not regularly including players such as Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the ODI squad amounts to doing an injustice to their talent. “I would love to see him (Abhishek Sharma) in the ODIs, to be honest. I have said this before: if we are not picking players like Ishan Kishan, Abhishek and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in 50-over cricket, then somewhere down the line, we are not doing justice to our talent,” Yuvraj told PTI on the sidelines of the launch of Protocol 32. “I understand we have some great players and it is hard to make a spot for them. I think the way they are performing, they should be in the squad soon, hopefully. Whatever he has achieved is because of his hard work, and credit goes to him,” he added. (Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/bIyFWTfmBd)

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Abhishek Sharma considers Yuvraj Singh his guru. Over the last few years, Abhishek has often sought guidance from the great all-rounder. Both hail from Punjab and possess an aura of invincibility. Yuvraj played at a time when T20 cricket was still at a nascent stage and became its first global superstar.

At the 2007 T20 World Cup, he slammed six sixes in an over against England. That feat helped him reach his fifty in just 12 balls, which remains the fastest T20I half-century by an Indian.

In the third India vs New Zealand T20I, Abhishek came close to matching that feat but narrowly missed out, reaching the landmark in 15 balls. He later went on to complete his century in 35 balls.

Shortly after the half-century, Yuvraj Singh jokingly wrote on X: “You still can’t get 50 off 12, can you @OfficialAbhi04! Looks like two left-handers batting in their backyard!”

Abhishek, though, said he is not ready to take up his mentor’s challenge of smashing a half-century off 12 balls, saying such feats are “not that easy”, even as he struck a match-winning century against New Zealand in the third T20I on Tuesday.

Responding to Yuvraj’s playful social media message that he still could not score a fifty off 12 balls, Abhishek said batters do not chase such milestones.

His comments came after India registered a six-wicket win, with the left-hander earning the Player of the Match award.

“I don’t know what cricket he was playing back at that time, but it’s not that easy at all,” Abhishek said during the presentation ceremony.

“I would say if any batter wants to go there and bat like that, it’s not easy at all. You can’t just go and score 50 off 12 balls. It just happens once in a while,” he added.

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