Abhishek Sharma: Reveals the Advice from Three Indian Stars on Overcoming Self-Doubt to Score Mumbai Ton
Cricket is often described as a game of pressure and nerves. And for India’s rising star Abhishek Sharma, those pressures are far from negligible, especially when stepping up to face the mighty batting lineup of Australia. But on Thursday, February 23rd, Sharma conquered his doubts to score a vital 100 at the iconic DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai.
The 24-year-old pacer, part of the senior Indian team squad, credited no less than three Indian cricket greats for shaping his approach towards the game: former Indian skippers Sunil Gavaskar, Saurav Ganguly, and batting legend Rahul Dravid. Speaking to Indian Express, Sharma shared the profound advice these three stalwarts of Indian cricket have given him at different points of his career:
"Sunil Gavaskar, after my first First-Class century in 2014, told me that I’ve got to accept the pressure is there, it’s normal. He said I’ve got to enjoy the highs and lows because that’s cricket. That taught me to face the challenges more calmly and without letting my excitement or frustration dominate my game. Gavaskar also added that, unlike international cricket where the ball often swings, here in domestic matches, you’ll need to graft and play positively to score consistently."
Gavaskar, a pioneer for India in test cricket, taught Sharma to face pressure with courage and to have faith in himself. His advise on adapting to different conditions became instrumental in helping Sharma score with consistency.
While batting with flair is one side of the equation, defending effectively is another aspect that’s as crucial in competitive cricket. The wise words from Saurav Ganguly about his batting in challenging conditions echo in Sharma’s mind:
"In difficult situations, Saurav Ganguly tells me to pick the right line and length quickly, because wickets don’t always spin straight away. That helps me anticipate and adapt the right pace in my bowling." Ganguly’s own battles as a batsman, often having to bat late in the game to rescue the Indian innings, made him attuned to recognizing the importance of a steady gameplan.
Cricketing authorities have often underscored the critical role that bowling discipline plays in achieving success, especially when encountering opposition batters like the Australia squad. Former India skipper Rahul Dravid’s guidance about discipline has reinforced Sharma’s ability to stick to his game-plan:
"Dravid bhai [brother] emphasizes, ‘Keep learning, and only when you take risks will you find the most innovative solutions on the field. It’s necessary to understand yourself and adapt,’ he said when I asked how I could remain mentally sharp amid intense competition."
In his inimitable humble and patient nature, Dravid taught Sharma not to fear setbacks, and encouraged him to use those moments of introspection as opportunities for personal growth. When facing adversity in cricket, or life for that matter, being adaptable, flexible, and constantly seeking self-awareness is precisely the sort of resilience Sharma sought to emulate, with these pieces of advice illuminating his mental framework.
India’s next generations of cricketers are building on the storied legacy forged by the game’s icons – Abhishek Sharma being just one of several young stars breaking into the upper echelons of Indian cricket. By applying the invaluable tips and lessons distilled from his coaches and idols, Sharma’s ‘Mumbai ton’ becomes just one more building block in what promises to be a glittering cricketing trajectory.
With humility and the mental toughness imparted by his elders, Sharma sets a fine precedent for India’s aspiring cricketers. There is little room for complacency, however – with every session spent on the training ground or facing international fire, the will to continuously absorb wisdom from peers and seniors underscores Abhishek Sharma’s promise as a beacon for the modern Indian cricket renaissance.
