As Team India gears up for their T20 World Cup 2026 showdown against Namibia, there are concerns over the availability of dynamic opener Abhishek Sharma, who has been hospitalized due to a stomach infection. He has been receiving treatment for the last two days, and a BCCI source stated, “Abhishek is currently in a private hospital in Delhi for a stomach infection. We are conducting tests to identify the issue. It remains uncertain if he will be discharged today, making his participation in the Namibia match look doubtful.”
Sharma, a left-handed batsman, struggled in the previous match against the USA, scoring a duck, and was replaced in the field by Sanju Samson. While the upcoming match against Namibia is important, the team’s primary focus is on the highly anticipated clash against arch-rivals Pakistan, set for February 15 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.
Stomach infections can significantly impact an athlete’s stamina and endurance, raising questions about Sharma’s readiness to travel on Friday. If he is unable to recover in time, it is likely that Samson will step in for the Namibia match, although the Indian management remains hopeful about his return for the Pakistan encounter.
Interestingly, the 25-year-old attended a dinner hosted by head coach Gautam Gambhir on Sunday but departed earlier than the rest of the squad. The T20 World Cup 2026 match between India and Namibia is scheduled for February 12 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Currently, the Men in Blue sit second in Group A, boasting a net run rate of +1.450, while Pakistan leads the group with two wins from two matches.
India’s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad:
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, Tilak Varma.
(With PTI Inputs)