Abhishek Sharma may not be in the best of form during the T20 World Cup 2026, but Ravi Shastri and Ricky Ponting have jumped to the defence of the Indian opener. Despite his lean patch with the bat, both men have urged the Indian team management to stick with Abhishek for the semi-final against England on March 5.
The Indian opener has endured a lean patch in the ongoing tournament, with his only notable contribution being a half-century against Zimbabwe. The southpaw registered three successive ducks against the USA, Pakistan and the Netherlands, before managing 15 off 12 deliveries versus South Africa.
Overall, he has accumulated 80 runs from six outings at an average of 13.33, striking at a little over 131. In the latest game, he made 10 from 11 balls before being dismissed, although India eventually crossed the line courtesy of Sanju Samson’s match-winning effort. Abhishek also had an off day in the field, putting down two chances. Despite this, Shastri said that any decision on Abhishek should only be made after assessing his mental space.
“Unless the team management realises that, mentally he’s not there. If mentally, his mindset has taken a beating, it’s for them to judge from the outside, in conversations with him, just seeing the way he’s batting in the nets,” the former India head coach said.
Ponting said that he expected Abhishek to be one of the contenders for being the Player Of The Tournament and leading run-scorer. However, he said he will stick with the opener.
“He’s obviously not made the runs that any of us expected,” Ponting stated. “I had him down as the leading run scorer and possibly the player of the tournament going back about a month ago. That hasn’t happened yet, but I would agree with Ravi. I would stick with him.”
Shastri said a team change should only be made if Ishan Kishan is moved up the order. Then India can bring in Rinku Singh to replace Abhishek.
“If that’s the case, then and only then will I think of putting Ishan Kishan up the order and then probably Rinku Singh bringing him, at the bottom,” he added.
“That could be the only change, but I would still persist with him because last time India played England, he had a terrific series against them.”
WILL ABHISHEK RETURN TO FORM IN MUMBAI?
The last time Abhishek played in Mumbai, he scored a brilliant 135 against England and Shastri expects a similar turnaround for the opener this time.
“I won’t take that away at the Wankhede,” Shastri said. “He’s done well in the past. He’s got some big hundreds there and very quick hundreds. I’ll persist with him because there’s enough firepower in that batting.”
India will face England on March 5 at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.
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