Abhishek Sharma has been out of form in the T20 World Cup 2026. He has made three ducks in the competition, and his form has been a concern for the Indian side. However, the Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has confirmed that he is just one knock away from bringing his red-hot form.
Post the 2024 T20 World Cup, Abhishek Sharma was India’s best batter, striking over 192. However, he has five ducks in the last seven innings before this World Cup. India is set to face South Africa, and an off-spin matchup against him can be a trick to get his wicket early. Former India captain Virender Sehwag and pacer Mohit Sharma have expressed their views on the batter’s poor form.
Abhishek Sharma needs to be patient
Virender Sehwag said, “He was expected to hit that ball, but he missed it. Perhaps he didn’t anticipate it, or maybe he misjudged the pace at which it arrived. That’s why he failed to connect. He was in a position to play the shot, but it didn’t come off.”
“I understand this situation because I’ve been there myself. I’ve had scores of 0 in two three matches. I’ve been dismissed off the first or second ball. But coming back from that isn’t as difficult as it seems —it’s largely about mindset.”
“If you know you are striking the ball well in the nets and doing everything right, you must ask yourself: why should you doubt your ability? Often, it comes down to shot selection. You have to pick the right delivery to attack for a boundary or a six.”
Virender Sehwag uses the example of SKY for Abhishek Sharma to learn
Sehwag kept on saying, “In his case, expectations might be playing a role especially with someone like Abhishek Sharma, who has built a reputation for hitting a six off the very first ball. We’ve seen innings begin with three sixes in three deliveries. That creates immense pressure. When expectations become that high, a player can end up forcing things and making mistakes.”
“I believe he doesn’t need to rush. Sometimes it doesn’t matter if he plays an over or two quietly. Even if he faces 12 balls without scoring much, he has the ability to explode in the next 12. We’ve seen him score 50 runs in 13–14 balls. So the capability is unquestionable.”
Here’s the video
‘Abhishek जैसी स्थिति से गुज़रा हूं, वापसी के लिए सही mindset की ज़रूरत’
सुनिए @virendersehwag और @imohitsharma18 की राय, Cricbuzz Live हिन्दी पर#2026T20WC #India pic.twitter.com/ygR9HZxvuG
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) February 20, 2026
Sehwag finally concluded, saying, “But he needs to give himself time. When runs aren’t coming, he should focus on spending time at the crease, play a few deliveries, and settle in.”
“Look at Suryakumar Yadav — when he was going through a lean phase, he adjusted his approach. He started playing 15–20 balls first, building rhythm, and then began accelerating. Sometimes, a slight shift in approach can make all the difference.”
India does not rely on batter
As per Mohit Sharma, Abhishek Sharma’s mental form has gone down as no player can remain strong after failing to even open the account in the last five innings. Every cricketer has to deal with the mental pressure after poor performances. India has a batting order till 8, so even if the top order fails, some batters can regain the innings in the middle.
India will be up against South Africa in their opening game of the Super 8 fixture on Sunday. Abhishek Sharma will look to get his first runs at the initial stages and then start firing after getting settled.
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