The T20 World Cup 2026 match between India and the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium was meant to be a typical league game, but it turned into one of the tournament’s oddest moments.
As India’s opener Abhishek Sharma stepped up to bat, fans noticed something odd – he was not in his official jersey. Instead, he wore a shirt with ’73’, which is associated with fast bowler Mohammed Siraj.
This led to immediate confusion. Were there ICC rule violations? Was India facing a problem? Social media quickly buzzed with questions before any runs were scored.
Why did Abhishek Sharma wear Mohammed Siraj’s jersey?
The explanation turned out to be much less dramatic than the online speculation. Abhishek had forgotten his kit bag, including his official jerseys, back at the hotel.
After India won the toss and opted to bat, there was no time to go back for his gear. Rather than risk a delay and possible penalties, he needed a quick solution. He first tried a teammate’s spare shirt but eventually chose Siraj’s jersey, which was handy since Siraj was not in the playing XI that day.
Commentators Sunil Gavaskar and Nasser Hussain explained the situation during the broadcast, clarifying that it was just a logistic mix-up.
Did Abhishek break ICC rules?
In short: No.
The ICC has strict clothing and identification rules during tournaments, but there is room for flexibility in special cases. Abhishek’s situation qualified as one of those cases.
1. Emergency exceptions
ICC regulations give match referees the authority to make decisions in unexpected situations like lost or damaged kits. Since this was a mistake, officials treated it as an emergency exchange.
2. Uniform compliance
Even though the name and number didn’t match, the jersey was still an official India team shirt with the correct tournament branding and sponsor logos, so the match’s professional look was maintained.
3. Official approval
Team management informed match officials before Abhishek took the field. With their approval to prevent delay, there was no rule violation or fine imposed.
Similar incidents have happened before, with players borrowing jerseys due to travel or logistical issues without facing penalties.
Abhishek’s poor form continues in T20 World Cup 2026
If the jersey incident caught attention, Abhishek’s performance added to the story. Unfortunately, the borrowed shirt did not help; he was out for a three-ball duck, bowled by Netherlands spinner Aryan Dutt.
This marked a disappointing milestone for him. It was his third consecutive duck in the 2026 T20 World Cup—against the USA, Pakistan, and now the Netherlands—making him the first Indian batter to achieve a ‘hat-trick’ of ducks in a single T20 World Cup edition.
