Yuvraj Singh touts Abhishek Sharma as potential India skipper

During a promotional event in Mumbai on Friday, 30 October, former India all‑rounder Yuvraj Singh spoke at length about young opener Abhishek Sharma, expressing confidence that the left‑handed batsman possesses the attributes to one day lead the national side. Yuvraj also urged the BCCI to provide Abhishek and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi with greater opportunities in ODI cricket.

Yuvraj, who contributed to Abhishek’s development as a coach during the COVID‑19 lockdown, said the young player displays the qualities of an excellent leader, which could bolster his candidacy as a future captain of the Men in Blue.

“Well, it’s too early to say whether he [Abhishek Sharma] has the makings of a captain, but I feel he has all the qualities of a leader. I think he encourages the younger guys in state cricket as well. I love the way he encourages Sooryavanshi, puts his hand on his shoulder and motivates him. I think that’s a good sign of a senior leader, whatever you want to call it,” Yuvraj said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Abhishek has been a fixture in India’s white‑ball setups, featuring in the 2026 T20 World Cup‑winning squad and the 2025 Asia Cup side. He became the youngest Indian to ascend to number one in the T20I rankings in 2025, a rapid ascent that has drawn comparisons with the nation’s most celebrated white‑ball stars.

Why Yuvraj thinks IPL captaincy is vital for India’s leadership

Yuvraj argued that captaining an IPL franchise is an essential step for any player aspiring to lead India. He observed that managing a team in the high‑pressure IPL environment builds the confidence needed to steer an international dressing room.

“If you want to captain India one day, I think it’s important to captain your IPL side. That gives you the kind of confidence you need to lead India. I’m sure time will tell whether he is capable of doing it. If it’s in his destiny, I’m sure he’ll get the opportunity. If not, then so be it. But I’m sure he’ll finish as a great white‑ball player, whether he becomes captain or not,” the legendary India cricketer added.

That backdrop intensified Yuvraj’s earlier frustration over Abhishek’s IPL 2026 situation. Sunrisers Hyderabad opted not to appoint Abhishek captain for the 2026 season, despite his seven‑to‑eight years of service to the franchise. Ishan Kishan was named stand‑in captain instead, a decision Yuvraj publicly criticised in April 2026.

Source link