Our Bureau
Mumbai
India’s top-order dynamo Abhishek Sharma has floundered disastrously at the T20 World Cup 2026, registering three consecutive ducks across the group stage and totalling just eight balls faced. The world No. 1 T20I batter, billed as India’s explosive opener and destroyer-in-chief, has sparked alarm bells ahead of the Super 8 clash against South Africa on Sunday. Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar delivered blunt advice, pinpointing predictability in Sharma’s dismissals and urging him to ditch pre-meditated aggression for smarter play.
Gavaskar attributed Sharma’s slump to the “weight of expectations” as the team’s premier six-hitter, which has cramped his natural flair. “Maybe the expectations might be weighing just a little too heavily on him. He is a lovely guy,” Gavaskar noted, lamenting how a flying start in the opener could have altered the narrative. Instead, Sharma’s compulsion to launch big shots across the line early has rendered his approach “very predictable,” leading to rash errors and mounting pressure from opposition bowlers.
The veteran advised Sharma to prioritize time at the crease, even enduring dot balls to gauge the pitch and rotate strike via singles. “He has to play smart cricket. He has to get the circulation in his legs. He has to get off the mark,” Gavaskar emphasized, stressing that strike rotation unlocks rhythm without chasing a 200 strike-rate image. This nightmare run marks Sharma’s fifth duck in T20Is this year, joining an infamous list, while India’s flawless group-stage finish offers slim redemption scope.
