Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has commented on the difficulties faced by opener Abhishek Sharma in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The left-handed batsman has not scored any runs and has been dismissed for zero in all three matches. Irfan has pointed out issues in Abhishek’s technique and mindset, particularly against off-spinners, which appear to be affecting his performance.
India is set to play South Africa in their first Super Eights match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, February 22. Irfan will be observing how Abhishek performs in this crucial game.
“Abhishek Sharma has been getting out to off-spinners in both the matches against Pakistan and the Netherlands. His shot selection is problematic. His bat comes down from a high angle, and he’s not focusing on hitting straight. Instead, he is trying to play across the wicket. That has been leading him into trouble,” Irfan explained via JioStar.
He tries to create space by moving his front foot, but bowlers have not been giving him that space. They are delivering wide balls that are not ideal for driving. These deliveries should either be taken for singles or played for one-bounce fours if he maintains his shape. This is the kind of bowling Salman Ali Agha and Aryan Dutt delivered to him, and South Africa is likely to do the same.
Irfan also highlighted that Abhishek is sticking to his technique and is refusing to make necessary adjustments, which is complicating his situation further.
His bat angle, which is natural for him, should not be changed drastically. Altering it now could lead to confusion. The priority should be to at least get off the mark with a single. He needs to anticipate the spinner and get to the other end to target the fast bowlers. When Markram bowls to him, there is no need to go all out from the very first ball,” Pathan added.
As the game against South Africa approaches, it will be interesting to see how the 25-year-old performs in this important match.
