Abhishek Sharma came into the 2026 T20 World Cup as the number one ranked batter in the format according to the ICC rankings. However, the left-hander has struggled in the first three matches and will be eager to make a strong comeback in the Super 8 stage.
He has commenced well in the making of his international career. He has a 35 plus average and strike rate of more than 190 in 40 T20Is. He also contributed to the 2025 Asian Cup victory of India and was selected to be the Player of the Tournament.
Abhishek failed to attend the match against Namibia due to him having a stomach infection. The big Pakistani clash saw him go back to the playing XI. Salman Ali Agha began playing bowling on behalf of Pakistan and Salman Ali Agha made Abhishek leave early because he was caught in the mid-on. The shot hit the splice of the bat untimely, and it had no force.
Wednesday, February 18: Before the Super 8 stage, Abhishek would have been hoping to get a few hits off the Netherlands. But he attempted to take off-spinner Aryan Dutt to the leg-side, but the ball slipped in between his bat and pad and struck the stumps.
Before the Netherlands match, Sunil Gavaskar had advised Abhishek to take a single first and settle in before playing big shots. But Abhishek continued with his attacking style from the start, and it did not work in his favour.
“That’s three in a row! Cruel game this sometimes. Chin up lad,” former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said in a tweet after Abhishek’s dismissal against the Dutch side.
Aakash Chopra Offers Technical Advice to Abhishek Sharma
Former India opener Aakash Chopra, on the other hand, believes Abhishek has not accurately judged the length of the deliveries and recommended him to play with a straighter bat at the start of his innings, which has previously resulted in incredible success.
“I won’t tell him not to play his shots as if he doesn’t he won’t remain Abhishek Sharma. The only thing I would suggest is that he should play with a straight bat at the start of his innings as he has done so well when he has followed that method,” Chopra stated.
The fact of the matter is that every cricketer goes through a bad patch where they’ve struggled to buy even a run. It may be a first for Abhishek at international level. This is where Gautam Gambhir the coach has to come and put an arm around a young shoulder, tell him about the challenges he faced. It might not be a bad idea for Abhishek to give his mentor Yuvraj Singh a call, who has re-invented himself after many memorable comebacks.
Abhishek’s quality is beyond a shadow of doubt. “Suddenly, one smashing innings, and he might still go on to win the Player of the Tournament or be the leading run-scorer.” But how Indian fans would hope and pray that he fires sooner rather than later, as the games are only getting tougher from here on.
