New Delhi: Shubham Sharma, a quietly consistent force in India’s domestic red-ball circuit, has credited former batting great Rahul Dravid for shaping his approach to the game, offering lessons that continue to guide him today.
Shubham made his first-class debut for Madhya Pradesh nearly 12 years ago and assumed captaincy two years back. While T20 cricket dominates headlines, he has remained dedicated to the longer format. Recently, he scored a commanding 122, steering Central Zone into the semi-finals of the ongoing Duleep Trophy.
Since the 2021-22 domestic season, Shubham has amassed 2,849 runs across all top-tier first-class competitions in India, the most by any batter with at least 40 innings. His nine centuries rank joint-second in this period, with an impressive average of 52.75.
Reflecting on his development, Shubham said his time at the National Cricket Academy (NCA, now Centre of Excellence) in Bengaluru was transformative. “Rahul sir took one of our Under-16 sessions at the NCA. I asked him a lot about mindset, and the advice he gave me still helps today. Back then, I was very young and naturally nervous about many aspects of the game,” he told ESPNcricinfo.
He added, “I shared my fears with Rahul sir, and he explained that these challenges are part of the game. He taught me how to prepare mentally for matches, which has been invaluable.”
Shubham has faced several formidable bowlers, but India’s experienced Mohammed Shami stands out as the toughest. The two have clashed in one first-class match and one List A game.
“Facing Shami bhai was challenging but enjoyable. In the Ranji Trophy last season against Bengal, he bowled a five-over spell in the second innings and didn’t let me rotate the strike. It was a great learning experience,” Shubham recalled.
“In the one-day match, we were 2 for 2 chasing 270, and I got out on 99. Still, facing Shami bhai boosted my confidence. His backspin and late swing are exceptional. Playing against a world-class bowler like him makes you feel you can take on anyone,” he added.
