Abhishek has established himself as India's premier opener in T20Is.
Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has strongly backed Abhishek Sharma for inclusion in India’s ODI setup, expressing that the young left-handed batter has done more than enough to earn a spot in the 50-over format ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Yuvraj emphasized that Abhishek's long-standing consistency in white-ball cricket warrants a proper run in the ODI squad. He noted that while internal competition with established names makes team selection difficult, players cannot showcase their talent or address areas of improvement without being given a fair opportunity
Yuvraj even drew a parallel to teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, highlighting how dynamic young talent can successfully carve out a place when trusted. Reports indicate that India head coach Gautam Gambhir is also aligned with the idea of integrating Abhishek into the ODI framework.
“Whether he has scored 35, 100 or 31, 100, the point is that he has been performing consistently in white-ball cricket for a very long time. What more he needs to do to get into the ODI squad, I don't know. Maybe he needs to contribute more with his bowling and fielding. But that will only happen if he gets an opportunity to play,” Yuvraj said.
“There are always areas to improve, and I think unless you give a player a chance, where is he going to showcase his talent? I understand that the situation is difficult right now because there is so much competition for places in the squad, along with some big names. But look at Sooryavanshi. He was brilliant and made his own place in the T20 squad. If you feel that Abhishek is performing brilliantly at the moment, then somewhere you have to make a place for him to play 50-over cricket until the World Cup,” he added.
Beyond his batting, Yuvraj highlighted the leadership qualities of Abhishek, praising him for encouraging younger players in state cricket and supporting Sooryavanshi.
He pointed out that if Abhishek harbors ambitions of leading the national side, gaining experience by captaining his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise is a vital stepping stone to building international-level confidence.
Regardless of whether Abhishek steps into a full-time captaincy role down the road, Yuvraj expressed complete confidence that he will establish himself as an exceptional white-ball player for India.
“Well, it’s too early to say whether he 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 stated.
“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,” he remarked.