Abhishek Sharma to get dropped? India coach makes fresh admission amid poor T20 World Cup form

New Delhi – Three ducks in as many group-stage outings have catapulted India opener Abhishek Sharma into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons at the T20 World Cup 2026, but the visiting brains trust insists the 25-year-old will remain part of the XI as the tournament moves into the Super 8s.

Bowling coach Morne Morkel, speaking after India sealed their passage out of the group, brushed aside suggestions that Abhishek’s place is under review. “Absolutely no discussion on Abhishek Sharma in the group,” Morkel said. “He is going to deliver, for the team and viewers. He is entertaining. He is hitting the ball well in the nets.”

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar believes the mounting pressure of being cast as the squad’s premier six-hitter is warping the left-hander’s approach. “Abhishek Sharma is a lovely guy, but expectations seem to be weighing on him,” Gavaskar noted. “If he had started well against the USA, it would have been different. Now the pressure of being the big six-hitter and top batter is showing.”

Gavaskar urged Abhishek to shelve the boundary-or-bust mindset at the crease. “With his shot range, he needs to spend time in the middle. He cannot try to hit a boundary or six on the first ball of his innings. If the big shots come, fine. But he shouldn’t force himself to play the big shots across the line.”

The batting great’s advice is simple: see off the new ball, rotate the strike, and allow natural timing to take over. “Take a single and get off the mark. Even four dot balls don’t matter. He can make up for them later. He needs to play smart. Spend an hour or two settling in, then play his natural game. First, just get off the mark. Every batter wants that first run. Once he gets it, everything will fall into place.”

Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate added that Abhishek, recently recovered from illness, has looked fluent behind closed doors. “He showed good form in training,” ten Doeschate revealed. “He batted well in the nets and should be fine in the next phase.”

India will hope those encouraging net sessions translate to middle-over composure when the Super 8s begin, with the management continuing to back their misfiring opener to turn potential into match-winning performances.