Old is gold: How Yuvraj Singh and Sachin Tendulkar are shaping the current stars

India recently won the T20 World Cup 2026 in Ahmedabad, becoming the first team in the world to lift the trophy on home soil. They also made history by becoming the first team ever to successfully defend a T20 World Cup title. After the victory, Player of the Tournament Sanju Samson revealed that former India cricketer Sachin Tendulkar had been in constant touch with him throughout a difficult phase leading up to the final and credited him for his brilliant performance.

Samson played match-winning innings in all the knockout games for India despite not being part of the playing XI in the initial matches. He was called back after Rinku Singh had to leave due to a family emergency, and the team management found it to be the perfect opportunity to give young opener Abhishek Sharma a cushion at the top due to his poor form leading into the do-or-die stage of the Super 8s.

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Samson turned out to be the perfect choice, delivering when it mattered most in the virtual quarter-final against West Indies with his unbeaten 97, in the semi-final against England with a quickfire 89, and in the final against New Zealand with an identical 89. Thanks to his sensational batting, India were able to post totals of 250-plus in the finals, putting both games on one side in the first innings itself, although England still managed to put up a fight in a losing cause.

Sachin's role in development of Indian cricket

When Samson returned home a day after winning the tournament, he further revealed that he had been in touch with Tendulkar since the Australian series in October, when he was dropped due to poor form. Samson said he wanted to understand the mindset required to perform when the time came and had been consulting Tendulkar since then. Tendulkar even reached out to him before the final to ask how he was feeling.

This is not the first instance of Tendulkar helping a player with his experience and observations. He famously helped Virat Kohli regain his confidence after a poor patch in England in 2014. The ‘God of Cricket,’ as he is lovingly referred to in India, is known for helping anyone who reaches out to him.

Tendulkar speaking to Kohli before an IPL game in 2018. Image: AFP

After Shubman Gill took over as India captain in 2025, following the retirement of Kohli and former skipper Rohit Sharma from the Test format, he reportedly sought Tendulkar’s advice on how to succeed in England. Gill went on to finish as the top run-scorer in the series and even helped India level the contest on English soil, which had not happened in a long time.

Tendulkar has always encouraged and guided youngsters in the team, and there are many examples to prove this. Rohit Sharma himself revealed in the past how the Master Blaster assisted him while batting against Australia in the 2007-08 series. Rohit was a newcomer at the time, and it was not known if he would become the legend he is today. Similarly, Tendulkar helped Kohli during one of his toughest phases, when nobody knew his full might.

How Yuvraj is helping Punjab cricketers in his own way

There are many more examples in Indian cricket of former stars mentoring young players. Yuvraj Singh is one such name. He has supported players like Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. While Gill had already been part of the Indian team for a while, Abhishek had become relatively unknown after his U-19 World Cup win in 2018 and his one-off knock for Delhi Capitals in the IPL.

But Yuvraj's guidance helped Abhishek reintroduce himself in his new avatar with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. He came back as a power-hitter who could single-handedly win games in the powerplay itself. Abhishek earned an India cap based on his IPL performances and carried that same aggressive style into international cricket, becoming a phenomenon. He silenced his critics with a brilliant knock in the T20 World Cup final.

Yuvraj has not stopped there. Since retiring from international cricket, he has transformed into a mentor and guide for young and budding cricketers in Punjab. He has played a key role in the development of IPL stars such as Priyansh Arya, Anmolpreet Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Ramandeep Singh, and others, who are currently making a name for themselves in the league.

And what's even more beautiful is that neither of them is seeking a permanent coaching role in the Indian Premier League (IPL) or the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). They are definitely not doing this for money. It appears to be a simple gesture of giving back to the game that has given them everything, and most importantly keeping Indian cricket healthy.