diff --git a/src/cli/backup/sharepoint.go b/src/cli/backup/sharepoint.go
index 1ce30eca6..25bc12707 100644
--- a/src/cli/backup/sharepoint.go
+++ b/src/cli/backup/sharepoint.go
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ func addSharePointCommands(cmd *cobra.Command) *cobra.Command {
 
 		flags.AddSiteFlag(c, true)
 		flags.AddSiteIDFlag(c, true)
+		// [TODO](hitesh) to add lists flag to invoke backup for lists
+		// when explicit invoke is not required anymore
 		flags.AddDataFlag(c, []string{flags.DataLibraries}, true)
 		flags.AddGenericBackupFlags(c)
 
diff --git a/src/cli/utils/sharepoint.go b/src/cli/utils/sharepoint.go
index 0270441a4..f405f1f1a 100644
--- a/src/cli/utils/sharepoint.go
+++ b/src/cli/utils/sharepoint.go
@@ -104,7 +104,9 @@ func SharePointAllowedCategories() map[string]struct{} {
 
 func AddCategories(sel *selectors.SharePointBackup, cats []string) *selectors.SharePointBackup {
 	if len(cats) == 0 {
-		sel.Include(sel.LibraryFolders(selectors.Any()), sel.Lists(selectors.Any()))
+		// [TODO](hitesh) to enable lists without being invoked explicitly via --data flag
+		// sel.Include(sel.LibraryFolders(selectors.Any()), sel.Lists(selectors.Any()))
+		sel.Include(sel.LibraryFolders(selectors.Any()))
 	}
 
 	for _, d := range cats {
diff --git a/src/cli/utils/sharepoint_test.go b/src/cli/utils/sharepoint_test.go
index 09da6ea3c..13f5a95ff 100644
--- a/src/cli/utils/sharepoint_test.go
+++ b/src/cli/utils/sharepoint_test.go
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ func (suite *SharePointUtilsSuite) TestAddSharepointCategories() {
 		{
 			name:           "none",
 			cats:           []string{},
-			expectScopeLen: 2,
+			expectScopeLen: 1,
 		},
 		{
 			name:           "libraries",