Shocking yet unexpected news has come out from the India National Cricket Team camp just as questions grow around the young opener Abhishek Sharma’s poor form in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 at home and in Sri Lanka.
Abhishek Sharma injury bombshell rocks Indian camp
As reported by News 24 journalist Abhishek Sharma, he suffered a hand injury right before the start of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. The left-handed batter cut his hand during the team photoshoot session ahead of the competition.
The injury required immediate medical attention. It is being said that the Punjab lad also needed stitches on the cut. Despite the setback, Abhishek did not take any precautions and went on to play India’s opening match against the USA while still carrying the injury.
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The journalist also claimed that Abhishek either played with protective support or special dressing on his hand to manage the discomfort.
📍 Big Breaking News 📍
Abhishek Sharma Got Injured Right Before Start Of T20 World Cup.
During Team Photoshoot His Hand Got Cut, And He Played First Match With Injury.
He Got Some Stitches Or Played With Switcher.
Is This The Reason For His Downfall ? pic.twitter.com/ocKBmxOAc6
— Vaibhav Bhola 🇮🇳 (@VibhuBhola) February 23, 2026
Form slumps after the return
Since then, his performances have been under scrutiny. The left-handed batter has struggled to make an impact at the top, registering three ducks after recovering from a stomach infection, and then he could manage only 15 runs in the Super 8 game against South Africa.
This revelation has led to fresh debate, with many questioning whether the injury is the hidden reason behind Abhishek’s sudden dip in form in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. With India fighting for survival in the Super 8 stage, Abhishek’s form remains a big question for the team.
South Africa’s smart bowling trap for Abhishek Sharma
Meanwhile, South Africa came fully prepared against Abhishek Sharma and made sure he never looked comfortable at the crease. From the very first over, the Proteas bowlers kept changing their speed, bowling slower ones, quicker deliveries, short balls, and full balls.
They also changed their angles smartly, resulting in Abhishek not being able to predict what was coming next. As an aggressive opener, he usually likes to attack early, but this time he looked unsure, and Irfan Pathan pointed out that India’s top-order batters are finding it hard to handle such smart plans.
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Irfan Pathan said on JioHotstar’s ‘Match Centre Live’: “It was a real struggle for Abhishek Sharma in this game. We’ve seen that he has gotten out to off-spinners twice in the last two matches. However, here the bowlers didn’t just stick to one pace or one line. If you look closely, no two consecutive deliveries were the same, and Abhishek Sharma didn’t seem to have an answer to that.”
Irfan Pathan breaks down the problem
The former World Cup winner explained that when a batter plays very aggressively, other teams start making special plans just to stop him. They study his game carefully and try different tricks so he cannot score easily. Pathan gave the example of Nathan Ellis during Abhishek’s tour of Australia.
Ellis did not bowl the same type of ball again and again. He used slower balls, fuller deliveries, and short bouncers. He even bowled back-of-the-hand slower balls to confuse him. Because of all these changes, Abhishek could not settle down or play his shots freely, and that’s exactly what the Proteas bowler did in the Super 8 clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Pathan signed off by saying, “It almost felt like the South African bowlers took a leaf out of Nathan Ellis’ book and applied it on a grassy wicket in Ahmedabad, with pace, variations, disciplined lines, and constant changes to keep him unsettled.”
