As Team India gears up to face South Africa in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026, all eyes are on Abhishek Sharma, the explosive left-handed opener who has struggled to find his rhythm. So far, he has unfortunately recorded three ducks in three matches.
Analyzing his performance, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan pointed out that Abhishek is attempting to play across the wicket, a tactic that has not worked in his favor as bowlers are denying him the necessary room to play his game effectively.
“Abhishek Sharma is falling victim to off-spinners. In matches against Pakistan and the Netherlands, off-spinners were his downfall. The issue is primarily with his shot selection. His bat comes down from a high angle, and instead of focusing on straight shots, he’s trying to play across the wicket, which has led to his dismissals. He shifts his front foot to create space, but bowlers are bowling wide, not close enough to be driven. These deliveries are either for singles or could be played for one-bounce boundaries if he maintains his form. That’s what Salman Ali Agha and Aryan Dutt did against him,” Pathan explained.
Looking ahead to the match against South Africa, Pathan believes they will adopt a similar strategy against Abhishek. He advises the young player to focus on getting off the mark with a single before targeting the quick bowlers.
“South Africa will likely follow the same approach. While Abhishek’s bat angle is natural for him, he shouldn’t attempt to alter it now; it could lead to more issues. His priority should be to get a single and find his footing. Once he’s on the scoreboard, he can strategize against the pacers. When Markram bowls to him, there’s no need to go all out from the first ball,” Pathan added.
India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 includes: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan (WK), Rinku Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, and Tilak Varma.
(With ANI Inputs)