A lot was riding on Abhishek Sharma when India started their campaign in the T20 World Cup 2026. But world’s No. 1 batter would not have expected such a start after having bagged a dubious record of being dismisssed for three successive ducks in the T20 World Cup.
The Punjab opener started off the tournament with a duck against USA in Mumbai, missed the second game in Delhi because of a stomach infection. He returned for the big match against Pakistan where he was dismissed by Salman Agha’s off-spin. Against a weak bowling attack, he would have expected to get some runs but Netherlands spinner Aryan Dutt knocked back his stumps in the first over. Abhishek’s struggle has prompted cricket legends like Sunil Gavaskar to come up with advise for the left-handed batter. The latest being Mohammed Kaif, who thinks Abhishek has a technical flaw in his batting.
“Look, when he got out for zero twice, it was understandable. Okay, back-to-back dismissals happen. Anyone can get out twice. But the third time, and in the same way, that raises questions,” Kaif was quoted as saying.
“In his career, whether you consider his junior career, U-16, U-19, or IPL, I don’t think he has ever gotten out for three ducks. Two times, fine, that can happen, but three times? Not opening your account at all raises questions about technique and mindset for upcoming matches.”
Kaif while analysing Abhishek’s batting, the former India batter said he is playing shots off the back foot. In this T20 World Cup, Abhishek has fallen to offspinners twice.
“If you watch all three dismissals, he’s playing shots off the back foot. His weight transfer, his approach: a stable base, high back lift, trying to hit big. Now, on the world stage, people are studying him, analyzing his videos, and bowlers are coming prepared,” Kaif said.
Batting legend Gavaskar wants Abhishek to spend some time at the crease before launching into the fours and sixes.
“I think with the range of shots he has, he has to give himself a little more time in the middle. Not be looking to open his innings with a boundary or a six. If he gets it, then fine – but looking to play across the line for the big shot, no. Even if there are four dot balls, it does not matter because in the next four to eight balls he can make up for that,” Gavaskar said.
Gavaskar feels that the way Abhishek is getting out has become predictable and he needs to play smart cricket.
“He has to play smart cricket. He has to get the circulation in his legs. He has to get off the mark. If you are playing for India, you have to get off the mark and everything will fall in place. The way he is getting out is very predictable. The mindset is such that, ‘I am being seen as somebody who hits at a 200 strike-rate, I have to live up to that.’ You don’t have to. It’s just natural. When you take a couple of singles, you get a sense of the pitch. He will get a big score once he gets set,” he also said.
