22 February,2026 04:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Irfan Pathan, Abhishek Sharma (Pic: File Pic)
Team India is set to lock horns with South Africa in the Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026. The match is scheduled to be played on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Ahead of the match, the cricket fans will keep a tab on Team India's swashbuckling opening batsman Abhishek Sharma. The left-handed batsman has been struggling to find himself among the runs. So far, he has registered three ducks in as many games.
Speaking about his poor form, former Team India cricketer Irfan Pathan explained that Abhishek is trying to play across the wicket, and the bowlers are not giving him enough room to play comfortably.
"Abhishek Sharma is getting out to off-spinners. Against Pakistan and the Netherlands, off-spinners got him. The problem lies in his shot selection. His bat comes down from a high angle, and he is not looking to hit straight. He is trying to play across the wicket. That is getting him into trouble. He moves his front foot away to create room, but bowlers are not giving him room. They are bowling wide, not close to him. These are not drivable balls. These are balls you either take a single on or, if you hold your shape, you can hit one-bounce fours. That is what Salman Ali Agha and Aryan Dutt bowled to him," he said.
Ahead of the clash against South Africa, the former cricketer feels the Proteas will look to do the same against Abhishek. He also suggests that the 25-year-old cricketer needs to get the single and get off the mark, and then target the pacers later.
"South Africa will do the same. His bat angle is coming across, which is natural to him. He does not need to change that. If he tries to change it now, it will be a mess. He has not scored runs. First things first, get a single, get off the mark. Expect the spinner to come in, get to the other end, and target the fast bowlers. When Markram comes on to bowl to him, he does not need to bludgeon from the first ball," said Pathan.
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan (WK), Rinku Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Tilak Varma.
(With ANI Inputs)
