Abhishek Sharma (ANI Photo) NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Yograj Singh has come down hard on Abhishek Sharma despite India’s 2026 World T20 triumph, questioning the focus and discipline of the opener after what he called an inconsistent campaign.Abhishek endured a mixed tournament in his first World Cup appearance. After starting with three consecutive ducks, he showed flashes of his explosive ability with a half-century at the Super 8 stage and a stunning 19-ball fifty in the final against New Zealand. However, with just 141 runs in eight matches, his form remained under scrutiny.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!In an interview with InsideSport, Yograj did not spare words when evaluating the youngster’s performances. “You fail because your mind is somewhere else. What is happening Shubman Gill, Abhishek? Failure comes only when your mind is diverted somewhere else. That is what is happening with Abhishek,” he said.
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IPL 2026 should be an audition for India’s next T20I captain The former cricketer also pointed out distractions off the field and stressed the importance of discipline. “The guy goes and bowls, that’s not his job. He should go to bed at 9pm, get up at 5am and play a thousand balls,” Yograj added, stressing the work ethic required at the highest level.Yograj, whose son Yuvraj Singh played a key role in shaping Abhishek’s game, drew the comparison and emphasized the importance of discipline. “It would take him another age to come close to Yuvraj Singh. The whole universe works on discipline. That’s how cricketers should work. Where do cricketers go wrong? Parties, girls, money, always shooting,” he said.“You can’t keep hitting sixes…”He further criticized Abhishek’s approach with the bat, especially his tendency to fly from the air too often. “I am very disgusted with him (Abhishek). There are times when I send messages to him – don’t take this game for granted. He always says ‘yes sir’. There are things called singles, doubles and boundaries. You can’t hit the ball in the air every time. You can’t keep hitting sixes and entertaining the crowd. You will fail,” declared Yograj.While Abhishek’s fearless batting remains a vital asset for India, Yograj’s remarks serve as a stark reminder that consistency, discipline and awareness of the game are essential to sustain success at the highest level.Also Check: Check Complete IPL 2026 Schedule with Match Dates, Venues and Team Schedule Here
