Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma is facing challenges ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. After Australia was knocked out early, Travis Head won’t continue, leaving Abhishek to maintain hope for his team. However, a recent stomach illness has affected his performance, resulting in three consecutive ducks in World Cup matches.
This has impacted his confidence. The Indian team recently returned for training after a day off before their Super Eight match. The session took place at 5:30 pm at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 20. Jasprit Bumrah arrived later than usual but participated in his regular practice. Abhishek’s demeanor during this time caught attention.
As reported by the Times of India, Abhishek entered the nets later than expected. Once the designated batters finished, it was his turn to practice. Before batting, he completed a full bowling session.
He appeared out of form, mainly trying to hit sixes but lacking confidence in his play.
Gambhir Had a Talk with Abhishek Sharma
Before training, coach Gautam Gambhir had a detailed conversation with Abhishek, encouraging him as he prepared to enter the nets. They shared a fist bump, showing support from the management.
Reports suggest that Abhishek was not making clean shots compared to his best form. He batted for 20 minutes under the watchful eyes of coaches and captain Suryakumar Yadav, who observed from nearby.
Later, bowling coach Morne Morkel voiced his confidence in Abhishek at a press conference, stating:
“Abhishek is a world-class player. It’s lucky that others are stepping up during this time since he isn’t scoring as he would like. We’re in a crucial phase of the World Cup, and I believe he will shine. He keeps the audience engaged, and we all look forward to watching him perform.”
Abhishek did manage some good shots later in practice, but his confidence seemed shaky as he exited the nets. India is set to face South Africa on February 22, and all eyes will be on Abhishek for a potential comeback.
