On the eve of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 finala touching moment unfolded during India’s training session at the Narendra Modi Stadiumwhere Abhishek Sharma’s father and childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharmaquietly watched his son prepare for the biggest match of the tournament.
As Abhishek spent nearly 30 minutes batting in the netsfacing throwdown specialists and net bowlers, he was closely observed by head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak. However, unknown to him at the time, his father was also present in the stands, silently cheering him on.
Father watches from afar with pride
Rajkumar Sharma positioned himself away from the main action but kept a careful eye on his son’s batting. Each sweetly timed shot from Abhishek was met with a reassuring nod from the proud father.
“Bahut baad baad net dekh hu, kal sab achcha hoga team bhi World Cup jeetegi,” he said with confidence, expressing hope that India would lift the trophy the following day.
Although he was seated in a hospitality box higher up in the stadium, Rajkumar said the real joy for him came from watching the game closer to the boundary ropes — just as he had done during Abhishek’s early cricketing days.
Emotional father-son moment after practice
After finishing his batting session, Abhishek was called aside by Gautam Gambhirwho engaged him in an animated conversation for nearly twenty minutes. The discussion included tactical advice and reassurance ahead of the crucial final.
Once the conversation ended, Abhishek was quickly surrounded by fans and net bowlers requesting selfies and autographs. He patiently obliged everyone before finally meeting his father.
The father and son shared a brief but meaningful conversation, discussing batting and the upcoming match before more fans interrupted the moment.
A challenging tournament for Abhishek
The tournament had not been easy for the young opener. Despite entering the competition as a highly rated batter, Abhishek struggled to find form and managed just 89 runs in eight matchesincluding three ducks early in the tournament.
His difficulties were compounded by a stomach infection that forced him into hospital, disrupting his rhythm further.
Opposition teams also identified his vulnerability against off-spin bowlingfrequently targeting him with spin options during the powerplay.
Hoping for a turnaround
Despite the setbacks, Abhishek showed glimpses of improvement, particularly in the match against Zimbabwewhere he spent more time at the crease and displayed greater patience.
His father remained optimistic, repeatedly mentioning one word to well-wishers around the stadium — “two” (prayer).
Before leaving the stadium, Rajkumar also briefly interacted with ICC Chairman Jay Shahwho was inspecting preparations for the final.
As the stadium prepared for the grand showdown, the father left with quiet confidence that his son would rediscover his rhythm and contribute to India’s success.
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