How captain Suryakumar Yadav’s backing transformed Abhishek Sharma into Asia Cup 2025 star

Abhishek Sharma may be India’s biggest talking point after his brilliant Asia Cup 2025 campaign, but his journey to becoming Player of the Tournament wasn’t smooth. The 25-year-old left-hander, who piled up 314 runs in the eight-nation event, had endured a rough start to his international career.

He made his India debut in the T20 series against Zimbabwe following the 2024 T20 World Cup win, but early opportunities were marked by a string of low scores. The turning point came when captain Suryakumar Yadav instilled belief in him with a powerful message.

In a recent interaction, Abhishek recalled, “When I got out early in 3-4 innings against Bangladesh, Surya bhai told me, ‘You’re so important that even if you score 15 ducks in a row, you’ll still play the next game. I can give it to you in writing.’ I asked him, ‘Paaji, are you sure?’ It was such a big deal that the captain said this.”

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That unwavering faith helped Abhishek regain his natural, attacking instincts. “For years, I was trying to play long and safe, but it didn’t work. Surya bhai’s words cleared my mind. I decided to back myself and play freely, even if it meant getting out early,” he said.

The results spoke for themselves. Abhishek smashed runs consistently in the Asia Cup, crossing 30 in six matches and only missing out in the final against Pakistan. His form also propelled him to a record 931 points in the ICC T20I batting rankings — surpassing Dawid Malan’s previous best of 919 in 2020.

Abhishek’s story is a reminder of how confidence and freedom from leadership can unlock a player’s true potential.