Abhishek Sharma’s T20 World Cup Woes: Gavaskar’s Blunt Advice

Abhishek Sharma was expected to be India’s key weapon heading into the 2026 T20 World Cup. Many saw him as the team’s “trump card.” However, even as the group stage concludes, the world’s No. 1 T20 batter has yet to score a single run. Three matches, zero runs—this is indeed a cause for serious concern.

India faces South Africa in their next Super 8 match on Sunday. Therefore, Sharma has very little time to turn things around. Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar suggests that Sharma must forget the “weight of expectations.” instead, he should spend some time in the middle and settle down before attempting big shots.

In fact, across three matches, Sharma has survived only eight balls in total. Gavaskar told Star Sports, “Maybe the pressure of expectations is weighing him down a bit too much. He is a lovely guy. If he had gotten a flying start in the first game, things might have been different. But now, it seems the pressure of being the team’s No. 1 batter and big hitter has overwhelmed him.”

He added, “With the variety of shots he possesses, he needs to give himself a little more time. It is better not to try hitting a boundary or six right at the start of the innings. If the opportunity comes, that’s fine. But forcing big shots across the line is not the way. Even if there are four dot balls, it doesn’t matter. He can easily make up for it in the next few deliveries.”

Gavaskar advised Sharma to play “smart cricket” rather than trying to live up to any premeditated image.

“He has to play smart cricket. He needs to get his feet moving and get off the mark. When you are playing for India, getting started is the main thing; everything else will fall into place. The way he is getting out is very predictable. His mindset seems to be, ‘I am seen as a player who strikes at 200, so I must deliver that.’ Actually, there is no such obligation. It’s natural—taking a few singles gives you a sense of the pitch. Once he gets set, a big score will follow,” Gavaskar explained.

With his latest dismissal, Abhishek Sharma has recorded five “ducks” in T20Is in 2026. As a result, he has joined the list of openers with the most ducks in a single calendar year in the shortest format. Notably, this unwanted list also includes Pakistan’s Saim Ayub, who registered six ducks in 2025.