Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Yograj Singh has come down heavily on Abhishek Sharma despite India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph, questioning the opener’s focus and discipline after what he termed an inconsistent campaign.Abhishek endured a mixed tournament in his maiden World Cup appearance. After starting with three consecutive ducks, he showed glimpses of his explosive ability with a half-century in the Super 8 stage and a stunning 19-ball fifty in the final against New Zealand. However, with just 141 runs in eight matches overall, his form remained under scrutiny.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking to InsideSport, Yograj did not mince words while assessing the youngster’s performances. “You fail because your mind is somewhere else. What is happening to Shubman Gill, Abhishek? The failure comes only when your mind is diverted somewhere else. That is what is happening with Abhishek,” he said.
The former cricketer also pointed to off-field distractions, stressing the importance of discipline. “The guy walks around doing reels; that isn’t his job. He should bloody well go to bed at 9 PM, wake up at 5 AM, and play a thousand balls,” Yograj added, underlining the work ethic required at the highest level.Yograj, whose son Yuvraj Singh has played a key role in shaping Abhishek’s game, drew comparisons while highlighting the importance of discipline. “It would take him another age to go closer to Yuvraj Singh. The whole universe works on discipline. That’s how cricketers should work. Where are cricketers going wrong? Parties, girls, money, shooting all the time,” he said.‘You cannot keep hitting sixes…’He further criticised Abhishek’s approach with the bat, particularly his tendency to go aerial too often. “I’m very disgusted with him (Abhishek). There are times when I drop him messages – don’t take this game for granted. He will always say ‘yes, sir’. There is something called a single, a double, and a boundary. Every time you cannot hit the ball in the air. You cannot keep hitting sixes and entertaining the crowd. You will fail,” Yograj stated.While Abhishek’s fearless batting remains a vital asset for India, Yograj’s remarks serve as a stark reminder that consistency, discipline, and game awareness are crucial to sustaining success at the highest level.
