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As the high-octane Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 approaches, the spotlight in the Indian camp is shining brightly on one man, but for all the wrong reasons. India are set to lock horns with a formidable South Africa on Sunday, February 22, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. While the team has cruised through the group stages with a flawless 4-0 record, the puzzling form of their star opener, Abhishek Sharma, has sent ripples of concern through the cricketing community.
Despite entering the tournament as the world’s top-ranked T20I batter, Abhishek’s bat has remained eerily silent. A former Indian cricketer and veteran of the 2002 NatWest final victory has now voiced serious apprehensions regarding the southpaw’s technical setup and temperament.
Ex-India batter flags technical flaws in Abhishek Sharma’s game ahead of the key encounter vs South Africa
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Mohammad Kaif did not mince words when dissecting the opener’s repetitive failures. While he initially viewed the early setbacks as a fluke, the pattern has become too consistent to ignore.
“Look, when he got out for zero twice, it was understandable. Okay, back-to-back dismissals happen. Anyone can get out twice. But the third time, and in the same way, that raises questions,” Kaif remarked.
Kaif pointed out that even in Abhishek’s formative years, such a slump was unheard of. He said: “In his career, whether you consider his junior career, U-16, U-19, or IPL, I don’t think he has ever gotten out for three ducks. Two times, fine, that can happen, but three times? Not opening your account at all raises questions about technique and mindset for upcoming matches.”
The crux of the issue, according to Kaif, lies in Abhishek’s back-foot dominance and a lack of adaptability. He noted that Abhishek’s penchant to swing hard while standing on his back foot is leading him to false shots. The dismissals against Salman Ali Agha and Aryan Dutt highlighted a vulnerability to off-spinners who vary their length and pace.
“If you watch all three dismissals, he’s playing shots off the back foot. His weight transfer, his approach: a stable base, high back lift, trying to hit big. Now, on the world stage, people are studying him, analyzing his videos, and bowlers are coming prepared,” Kaif added.
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Abhishek’s dismal run in the T20 World Cup 2026 group stage
To say Abhishek is having a lean patch would be an understatement. The statistics from the group stage are harrowing for a player of his calibre. In three appearances, the scorecard for the opener reads: 0 (1), 0 (4), and 0 (3).
His nightmare began at the Wankhede Stadium against the USA, where he fell for a golden duck. After missing the Namibia fixture due to a stomach bug, he returned for the high-pressure clash against Pakistan in Colombo, only to miscue a pull shot off Agha. The “hat-trick” of zeroes was completed in Ahmedabad against the Netherlands, where he was cleaned up by Dutt while attempting a cross-batted heave.
This string of three consecutive ducks is now an unwanted record for an Indian batter in a single T20 World Cup edition. With South Africa possessing a sophisticated scouting department and versatile bowlers like Aiden Markram and George Linde, the pressure on Abhishek to find his first run of the tournament has reached a breaking point.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com
