India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel said the team is not worried about Abhishek Sharma’s poor performance in the T20 World Cup 2026. Abhishek has scored five ducks in his last seven innings, including three consecutive zero scores in the current tournament. Morkel expressed confidence that Abhishek will bounce back from this tough period.
“We haven’t discussed that at all in our team meetings,” Morkel noted ahead of India’s Super 8 match against South Africa. “Abhishek is a top player. Fortunately, others have stepped up while Abhishek hasn’t been able to score as he would like. We are in a crucial stage of the World Cup, and I’m sure he will perform well.”
Morkel pointed out that the team hasn’t reached its usual performance level, and players need to improve their skills. India dropped nine catches during the group stage, ranking them as the second-worst in this area, just ahead of Ireland.
Regarding the team lineup for the match against South Africa in Ahmedabad, Morkel mentioned there would be changes to the bowling lineup. He praised Shivam Dube for his growth as a dependable all-rounder.
Morkel said, “With Shivam, confidence is key for any bowler. You need to feel supported. This journey started over a year ago when we entrusted him to bowl for us in Dubai (during the Asia Cup) and he bowled the first over. Once you sense that backing from the captain, coach, and staff, it boosts your confidence.”
