Yuvraj Singh has come up with a fitting analogy to describe the evolution of the new generation of Indian batters, likening himself, Abhishek Sharma and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to different versions of the famous Hollywood franchise ‘Terminator’, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The former India all-rounder, who has mentored Abhishek over the years, believes the 15-year-old Sooryavanshi represents the next stage in the progression of attacking batting and said he would be delighted to work with the youngster in the future.

Terminator 6

Speaking to JioHotstarYuvraj said, “I always call myself a Terminator. Now there is Terminator 4, Abhishek Sharma, who is four times better than me. And after him comes Terminator 6, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has evolved even more.

“I did my part in my time, Abhishek elevated it, and now Vaibhav is setting new standards. This is the third phase of the same journey. It is great to see the sport evolving,” said Yuvraj, who watched the Wimbledon men’s singles final alongside Abhishek and Sooryavanshi.

“When I watch (Jannik) Sinner and (Carlos) Alcaraz, I see how tennis is changing.

I see the same evolution in Abhishek and Vaibhav. I have spent a lot of time training Abhishek, and I would love to spend time with Vaibhav as well. He has a great career ahead of him. He is a serious player in the making, and I believe he will get there.”

On Sunday (July 12), the spotlight shifted to cricket’s next generation as young Vaibhav watched the Wimbledon men’s final alongside former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, as well as current T20I national squad members Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson.

The appearance offered a brief respite for the Indian T20I side, who had just wrapped up a challenging five-match series against England, which concluded in a 0-4 defeat for the visitors.

Yuvi Paaji is my idol: Sooryavanshi

The batting prodigy, on his part, said the interaction with Yuvraj gave him valuable lessons that extended beyond technique.

“Yuvi Paaji is my idol too. Meeting him for the first time was a special moment. I got to spend time with him and he shared a lot of insights about the game,” said the teenage cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who marked his first visit to Wimbledon in style this Sunday (July 12).

The 15-year-old was spotted soaking up the electric atmosphere at Centre Court for the men’s singles final, accompanied by an impressive lineup of Indian cricketing stars, including Yuvraj Singh, Abhishek Sharma, and Sanju Samson.

“He (Yuvraj) spoke about the mental side of the game, how to handle pressure, and the importance of believing in yourself. It feels great to have so much to learn from someone like him. I am sure it will help me a lot in my career going forward,” Sooryavanshi said. Further, he shared that his passion for tennis has been growing over the last four to five years and revealed that while growing up, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal were the two players he admired and looked up to the most.

Asked which player from tennis’ new generation has impressed him the most, Vaibhav backed world No. 1 Jannik Sinner to come out on top in the Wimbledon final. “I’ve really liked Sinner, the way he has dominated throughout the tournament. Hopefully, he wins today,” he said. Sinner went on to lift the coveted Wimbledon Men’s Singles trophy.

Despite being just 15 years old, Vaibhav has rapidly established himself as one of the brightest young prospects in Indian cricket. His presence at Wimbledon highlights the growing crossover between the two sports, as an increasing number of elite cricketers now make the All England Club a staple destination during the iconic grass-court season.

Special day for Abhishek Sharma

Meanwhile, Abhishek, who has flourished under Yuvraj’s mentorship, said he could relate to the teenager’s emotions. “I can feel what Vaibhav is feeling right now because Yuvi Paaji is my idol as well. I remember when I first met him, it was kind of the same feeling that he’s feeling right now.

“So obviously, watching my first Wimbledon, and that too the finals, with Yuvi Paaji and Vaibhav, it’s a special day for me,” Abhishek said.