Abhishek Sharma credits Suryakumar and Gambhir for fearless rise

For Abhishek Sharma, the 2025 Asia Cup was more than just a strong tournament, it was a statement. Early T20I outings had hinted at his potential, but in this campaign he proved he could shape games at the highest level. His fearless approach, built on high-risk strokeplay, was made possible by the trust placed in him by captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir. That backing, he said, allowed him to treat every game with the same mindset.

"I have never felt that this is a pressure match. We have prepared all the matches equally. Because of the way I have been playing. I felt like Surya bhai and GG ji have given me confidence because when you want to play like this [brand of cricket], you have to go up and down," Abhishek said after being named player of the tournament.

The approach was risky, but the rewards outweighed the failures: 314 runs in seven games at a strike-rate of 200, setting the tone for India's ninth Asia Cup win.

"Obviously, if you want to play at such a high risk, then there are failures. But the way they handled me at that time, the way they [Gambhir and Suryakumar] talked to me at that time, I think because of that, especially to play like this because it is very important, that you have such support with the team."

It has taken Abhishek time to get here. A member of India's 2018 U19 World Cup-winning squad alongside current Test captain Shubman Gill, his path since then was far from straightforward. With Delhi Capitals in the IPL and in domestic cricket, he struggled to leave a consistent impression. In hindsight, he believes those detours and setbacks gave him lessons he wouldn't have learned had success come instantly.

"I have played Under 19 and after that I got a chance. So it was very up and down because [for some players the trajectory is straight while for others, they experience everything] So I felt, I needed that [experiencing everything]. Because as a player, if I came directly, then I would not have got everything to learn. But obviously, I got more time to work than normal. Many players do not get that but I got more.

"I think this is just the beginning of our team and there is a lot more to come," Abhishek said.

That sense of perspective has carried into the present, where he credits Suryakumar's captaincy as an influence. What struck him most, Abhishek said, was how little the leader's demeanour changed, regardless of runs scored.

"Since I have joined the team, even when he scores 100, he will still laugh like that, he talks to everyone like that. Even if he is out early, he leads everyone together. So I feel, this is the best quality of his I have seen. I also want to learn this because in T20 especially, you keep going up and down. But you have to make a balance, how to stay with the team, Enjoy everything."