Captain SKY backs Abhishek Sharma (Source: AFP)
In the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, fans may enjoyed Team India’s unbeaten run, but Abhishek Sharma’s dry patch has become a massive concern. With three ducks in three matches, the fiery Indian opener is yet to score his first run in this tournament.
As the batter is struggling hard with his current form, a buzz was created over his place in the playing XI in the upcoming clash. Ahead of the match, when captain Suryakumar Yadav was asked about that, his response quickly shut down all the buzz.
SKY puts an end to all doubts over Abhishek Sharma’s place
After Rohit Sharma’s exit from the shortest format, Team India found another future superstar in Abhishek Sharma. The Punjab batter took the domination to a different level with his power-hitting abilities as the opponent batters faced the heat. But in the T20 World Cup 2026, his interrupted as his recent struggle grabbed the attention.
As the team is shifting their focus to the Super Eight stage, the conditions will be more challenging. After consecutive failures during his lean patch, critics began questioning his chances of featuring in the next stage of the tournament.
Also Read: South Africa Coach Shukri Conrad Threatens To Expose India In T20 World Cup
Before stepping into their first Super Eight game against South Africa, captain Suryakumar Yadav was asked about Abhishek’s place in the next match. Shutting down the critics, he backed the player and expressed full faith in his abilities.
“I am worried about the people who are worrying about Abhishek Sharma. I am more concerned for the teams that will face him later,” SKY said.
Suryakumar Yadav backs Abhishek for a strong comeback
The cricket world saw Abhishek Sharma’s domination at the big stage in the last few years. In the Asia Cup 2025, the batter single-handedly set the stage on fire as he ended up being the highest run scorer of the tournament. Recognizing that dry spells are part of a player’s journey, captain Suryakumar Yadav remained unbothered about Abhishek’s recent struggles.
While backing the opener, Suryakumar Yadav showed full faith in his strong comeback. He added that it is now the team’s responsibility to support the star, just as he has delivered in the past when needed.
“The rest of the answer, you know, you know what happens when he goes big. It happens, it’s a team sport. It’s the team’s requirement that he plays according to his identity. He is trying to do that. If it clicks, great. If it doesn’t, we are there to cover for him. He covered for us all year; now it’s our turn to back him,” he added.
Team India needs Abhishek to unleash his full potential in the Super Eight stage
Team India completed the group stage with an unbeaten streak, but their performances have not been outstanding. Even with the bowling department showing excellence, top-order troubles persisted, as Abhishek Sharma’s quick dismissals added to their woes. As the Super Eight stage stands in the corner, it's the final time to rectify those errors.
In the last two matches, the opponent teams used spinners against Abhishek Sharma nd his weakness has been exposed. As one of the strongest pillars of India’s batting lineup, his powerful comeback could provide the much-needed boost the team requires. With South Africa boasting world-class spinners, he will face challenges, but overcoming them is crucial.
Also Read: Suryakumar Yadav Earns ICC Award Nomination Amid Mixed T20 World Cup Campaign
.jpg?type=mq "SA playing XI")
