India has participated in three matches so far at the T20 World Cup, but opener Abhishek Sharma has yet to make a significant impact. Due to illness, he missed one match and has struggled with performances, recording zero runs in two games against the USA and Pakistan. This has raised concerns about whether his aggressive playing style is holding him back.
Despite these setbacks, Abhishek has been recognized as one of the most promising T20I talents in world cricket over the past year and a half. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has offered him a straightforward piece of advice to break his scoring drought: start with a single. In an exclusive interview, Gavaskar emphasized the importance of settling in before trying to score more aggressively.
“My unsolicited advice to Abhishek Sharma is: just knock a single first. That’s it. Then you can start banging after that,” Gavaskar noted. He highlighted that confidence plays a crucial role and referenced Abhishek’s previous success, including a century against New Zealand. Gavaskar urged him to respect his good form and avoid being overly ambitious too early in his innings.
While Abhishek had an impressive tally of 314 runs in seven matches during the Asia Cup 2025, his recent performances have been hindered as opposing teams have come well-prepared to counter his batting threat. In his outings against the USA and Pakistan, he fell victim early, caught in deep cover and at mid-on, respectively.
Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak addressed concerns regarding Abhishek’s form ahead of the upcoming match against the Netherlands. He downplayed the anxiety over his performances, suggesting that overanalysis can lead to unnecessary pressure on players. “He has his plans sorted… sometimes you start making more assumptions than the opposition do,” Kotak remarked.
Kotak further expressed confidence in Abhishek’s aggressive playing style, stating that even a quick 30 off 10 balls could be valuable in T20 formats. His focus remains on ensuring players have clarity and a strong mindset, which is vital for performing well under pressure.
With continued support from coaches and a focus on fine-tuning his approach, there’s optimism that Abhishek Sharma will soon find his rhythm and contribute significantly to India’s campaign in the World Cup.