Abhishek Sharma Exposed: Bowlers Who Can Dismiss India Star In T20 World Cup Super 8

Bowlers who can dismiss Abhishek Sharma in Super 8 [Source: AFP]

For the last 18 months, Abhishek Sharma was India’s undisputed best batter in the T20Is. He had scored truckloads of runs in the format, and the opposition bowlers had a fear in their eyes for him. However, that all changed in the World Cup as Abhishek is yet to score a single run despite playing three matches.

Against the USA, he registered a duck, and the Indian opener missed the Namibia clash before going for yet another duck against arch-rivals, Pakistan. Things turned from bad to worse for the southpaw as the Netherlands team found a loophole and Abhishek once again departed without troubling the scorers.

Bowlers who could be used to dismiss Abhishek in T20 World Cup Super 8

In all three dismissals, the opposition bowler had a plan, and it was executed to perfection as the world’s number one-ranked T20I batter is yet to open his account in the World Cup. Barring the USA match, the other two matches saw the opponents use a right-arm off-break bowler to choke Abhishek’s flow of runs.

It seems like teams have found their way to tackle the early domination of Abhishek, and with three matches to be played in the Super 8, here’s who the opposition captain might use in the powerplay to dismiss the underperforming Abhishek.

Match 1- India vs South Africa (Aiden Markram)

In the match against Pakistan and the Netherlands, off-break bowlers dismissed Abhishek, and if the Proteas follow the same pattern, then captain Aiden Markram is likely to open the bowling for his side. Abhishek generally takes the strike, and Markram, with his off-break bowling, has a chance to get rid off him for yet another duck.

Match 2- India vs Zimbabwe (Sikandar Raza)

Another game where the captain is likely to promote himself to open the bowling in the powerplay. Unlike Markram, Zimbabwe captain, Sikandar Raza is used to open the bowling in the first 6 overs, and with his ball turning away from Abhishek, the 39-year-old might fancy his chances of getting his wicket to dent India.

Match 3- India vs West Indies (Roston Chase)

If the trend is anything to go by, then the Windies could bring in Roston Chase to tackle the Abhishek Sharma problem. The wily all-rounder is not a big turner of the ball, but he generates enough turn to take the outside-edge, and Abhishek will have to be wary about it as the two sides will lock horns in Kolkata, a venue that assists the spinners.

Also Read: Time's Up! Suryakumar Yadav Indirectly Asks Abhishek Sharma To Step Up After Horrible Form

Why has Abhishek struggled against off-break bowlers

(Abhishek vs right-arm off-break in 2026)

• This year, he has encountered the right-arm off-break bowling in three innings, and out of those, twice he was dismissed by them. Salman Agha took his wicket in the India vs Pakistan game, and Aryan Dutt was the wicket-taker in the Netherlands clash.
• His strike rate this year against them has been a mere 115.3, and it showcases how the batter struggles against them in T20Is. One main reason for this is the ability of the off-break bowlers against the lefties.
• They tend to drift the ball away from the left-handed batters, often inducing the outside-edge. Also, in Abhishek Sharma’s case, both Salman Agha, and Aryan Dutt have bowled a stump-to-stump line, making sure that the batter has no room to free his arms.
• This has led to Abhishek getting frustrated, and playing a rash shot which eventually leads to a wicket.

Final verdict

Abhishek will be a key batter for India in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup, but he will encounter the right-arm off-break challenge as all three teams in India’s group has that variety in their attack, and they will use the off-break weapon against Abhishek in the powerplay, and the Indian openers needs to find a way to tackle them.

Also Read: BCCI vs England Cricket Board- Pakistan Players In The Hundred Auction Protected