Table of Contents
In a lighthearted moment that has brought smiles to fans amid the intensity of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav was spotted hilariously checking opener Abhishek Sharma’s pockets during a training session in Ahmedabad.
The incident, which took place ahead of India’s crucial Super 8 encounter against South Africa, has gone viral on social media, showcasing the team’s relaxed camaraderie despite the high stakes.
Suryakumar Yadav checks Abhishek Sharma’s pockets: The hilarious moment in Team India’s training session
Video footage from the practice session at the Narendra Modi Stadium complex showed Suryakumar approaching Abhishek and playfully patting down his pockets, as if searching for something. The skipper’s animated gestures and mock-serious expression left teammates and support staff in splits .
Well, Suryakumar was jokingly checking whether the swashbuckling batter had a piece of paper in his pocket – a reference to Abhishek’s famous celebration after his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) century in 2025.
Here’s the video:
Suryakumar checked Abhishek Sharma’s pocket before the Africa match.💀
Something big is cooking 👀 pic.twitter.com/wLjoA2umoX
— muffatball vikrant (@Vikrant_1589) February 20, 2026
The ‘Orange Army’ note connection with Abhishek Sharma
The pocket-checking tease has its origins in a memorable IPL moment. After scoring his first IPL ton for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 2025 season, Abhishek pulled out a note from his pocket that read: “This one is for the Orange Army,” dedicating his achievement to the franchise’s passionate fanbase.
The gesture has become the talking point among cricket circles, with fans appreciating the youngster’s thoughtful tribute. Suryakumar’s decision to recreate the moment – checking if Abhishek had another note hidden for the World Cup – highlights the skipper’s playful leadership style and the comfortable equation between the two.
Also WATCH: Emotional Jonathan Trott breaks down after final game as Afghanistan coach
Abhishek is yet to score in T20 World Cup 2026
While the training session moment was lighthearted, it comes at a time when Abhishek’s batting form has come under significant scrutiny. The 25-year-old left-hander has registered a hat-trick of ducks in the T20 World Cup 2026, losing his wicket on zero against the United States, Pakistan and the Netherlands .
He missed India’s group fixture against Namibia due to a stomach infection that required hospital attention in New Delhi, but returned for the Netherlands match, only to be bowled by off-spinner Aryan Dutt for a third consecutive duck . This makes him the first Indian opener to achieve this unwanted milestone in T20 World Cup history.
Despite this rough patch, Abhishek remains the world’s No. 1 ranked T20I batter, having amassed 1,297 runs across 40 T20I innings at a stunning strike rate of 192.43. However, the pressure is mounting after he has been dismissed for a duck five times in his last seven international outings .
Virendra Sehwag’s advice to Abhishek: “Try to play some balls”
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has weighed in on Abhishek’s struggles, emphasizing that the youngster needs to adjust his approach rather than abandon his aggressive instincts.
“It was a ball to be hit but he missed it. I have been in his shoes, making 2-3 zeroes, but making a comeback is not that difficult because it is just about the mindset,” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.
“It is about shot selection, which is where he is making a mistake. The expectations from him are to score right away, and he may make a mistake. But he should play some balls while he is not scoring runs, try to play some balls,” the legendary opener advised.
India kick off their Super 8 campaign against South Africa on February 22 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. They will then face Zimbabwe in Chennai on February 26 and the West Indies in Kolkata on March 1.
For Abhishek, the South Africa match presents an opportunity to silence critics and repay the faith shown by his captain and team management. Despite his failures, Suryakumar’s lighthearted gesture in training suggests the team’s support for the young opener remains unwavering.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: crickettimes.com
