Before the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, there was buzz about Abhishek Sharma everywhere. This young opening batsman of Team India seemed to be on top in every parameter of T20 batting. He was also the number-1 batsman in the ICC T20 rankings. It was believed that Abhishek would continue his form in the T20 World Cup but he could not even open his account in his first 3 matches. After this, he scored only 15 runs in the Super-8 match against South Africa.
Till the time Abhishek was getting out on a duck, there was not much concern about his form but the way he batted against South Africa has exposed him. Abhishek is being prevented from scoring runs by placing fielders in the same area where he scores the most runs and he is making a run for it by throwing away his wicket.
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Where is Abhishek getting stuck?
Abhishek Sharma is going to open with Ishan Kishan in this tournament. Both are left-handed batsmen, due to which the opposition teams are putting them in trouble by attacking with off-spinners. Abhishek was trained by Salman Ali Aga against Pakistan. In the next match against Netherlands, he was clean bowled by Aryan Dutt.
Team India’s first match in this T20 World Cup was against America. Abhishek had become the victim of fast bowler Ali Khan in that match. Ali Khan had him caught in deep cover. Abhishek avoided the threat of off-spin against South Africa on Sunday but he got trapped in the plan made by the fast bowlers. In the powerplay, both fielders were placed deep in the off side for Abhishek, due to which he could not hit big hits in his strongest area. America had also decorated a similar field for Abhishek.
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Slower ball is also effective
In front of Abhishek, South African fast bowlers also used the slower ball a lot. Especially Lungi Ngidi and Marco Janson did not give him the pace on which he could play big shots. When Kagiso Rabada bowled a fast ball, Abhishek was successful in hitting a six but he could not play the slow balls in full flow. Ultimately, Yanson trapped him on a slow ball and sent him to the pavilion inside the powerplay.
25 year old Abhishek will have to understand the preparations of the opposition teams. When fielding offside, he will have to rely on single-double instead of looking for fours and sixes towards deep point and deep cover. It remains to be seen how Abhishek deals with slower ball tactics. Today (February 26), Team India is going to play an important match against Zimbabwe in Chennai, in which all eyes will be on Abhishek’s game plan.
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