Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has publicly backed Abhishek Sharma for inclusion in India's ODI squad, arguing that the left-handed opener deserves a chance to play 50-over cricket before the 2027 World Cup. Yuvraj made his position clear in a statement reported on October 30, 2026, insisting that not picking Abhishek would amount to failing a consistently performing cricketer.

Yuvraj extended his backing beyond Abhishek alone, also calling for Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to be given ODI opportunities ahead of the 2027 tournament. As of now, both Abhishek and Sooryavanshi remain primarily T20I players and have not yet received ODI call-ups, while Kishan's international future has also been a subject of discussion.

"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 via Cricbuzz.

Yuvraj's argument rests on Abhishek's sustained output in white-ball cricket over an extended period. The former India star acknowledged that competition for places in the current squad is intense and that several big names make selection difficult, but maintained that consistent performers cannot be overlooked indefinitely.

Yuvraj also noted that Abhishek may need to contribute more with his bowling and fielding to strengthen his ODI case, while simultaneously pointing out that such contributions can only come once a player is actually given the opportunity to feature. He framed the situation as a cycle that selectors need to break by handing Abhishek a run in 50-over cricket before the World Cup.

"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 concluded.

What are Abhishek Sharma's numbers for India in T20I cricket?

Abhishek's T20I credentials received further recognition during the West Indies series held between September 27 and October 17, 2026, when he became the fastest batsman to reach 2,000 T20I runs in terms of balls faced, reaching the milestone in just 1,024 balls. Two of his most recent centuries in the shortest format of the game - against Afghanistan off 30 balls and more recently against New Zealand off 35 - underline his consistency while batting with an aggressive mindset at the highest level.