India has advanced from the group stages of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, despite Abhishek Sharma not scoring any runs. The top-ranked batter was anticipated to excel in the tournament, especially after showing strong performance before it began. However, he is now struggling to get on the scoreboard.
Abhishek was in excellent form prior to the tournament and had never faced such a slump before. After a shaky start in his International career, where he accumulated just 170 runs at an average of 18.88 in his first ten matches, he managed to turn things around when it mattered most.
In a four-match T20I series against South Africa in November 2024, he had a rocky start but eventually hit his stride, scoring heavily and climbing to the top of the T20I batting rankings. Over 24 matches, he amassed 1029 runs at nearly a 200 strike rate and maintained an average of 45.
However, bowlers have started attacking his stumps more, impacting his ability to play freely. He has recorded five ducks in his last seven innings. India’s opening batting situation has often been a concern, particularly with Sanju Samson’s ongoing struggles since 2025. Abhishek’s current slump is particularly unfortunate as India heads into the Super Eight stages, where they will face South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the West Indies.
Is Sanju Samson the Right Choice to Replace Abhishek?
Some fans of Sanju Samson are questioning Abhishek Sharma’s place in the team due to his ongoing difficulties in scoring. Despite this, the Indian team is not considering replacing him yet, due to his significant potential. Abhishek isn’t entirely out of form; he is simply having trouble finding runs.
While Mohammed Amir’s recent comment about him might seem accurate, Abhishek’s impressive performance over 25 matches indicates he is more than just a player who gets lucky. Conversely, Samson has made notable changes to his game, but has not been able to produce consistent runs in 2026, managing just 68 runs at an average of 11.33 in six innings. The key difference between Abhishek and Samson appears to be the manner of their dismissals: Abhishek’s seem more influenced by bad luck, while Samson’s issues appear to stem from technical problems.
