Abhishek Sharma‘s lean patch with the bat has become one of the biggest talking points in Indian cricket, with fans and former cricketers questioning his place in the T20I setup. However, at a time when criticism is mounting, former India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has stepped forward to publicly support the young opener, encouraging him to remain confident and trust his natural game despite the difficult phase.
Abhishek Sharma’s struggles continue despite India’s series sweep
India completed a convincing 3-0 T20I series victory over Zimbabwe in July 2026, but the triumph offered little relief for Abhishek. The left-handed opener endured a forgettable campaign, managing scores of just 1, 8, and 2 in the three matches. He finished the series with only 11 runs, extending a worrying run of poor form.
The numbers paint an equally concerning picture. Across his last six T20I innings, Abhishek has accumulated only 40 runs with scores of 10, 16, 3, 1, 8, and 2. His aggressive batting style, which has often made him one of India’s most destructive powerplay batters, has recently worked against him as he has struggled to convert starts into meaningful contributions.
His overall record in 2026 further highlights the issue. In 23 T20Is this year, Abhishek has been dismissed for scores below 20 on 15 occasions, including six ducks. Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani proved to be his biggest challenge during the series, restricting him to just four runs from 17 deliveries while dismissing him repeatedly.
Selection debate intensifies as former cricketers question management
Abhishek’s prolonged slump has triggered fresh discussions about India’s selection policy. Several former cricketers believe the team management has continued to back the opener despite a lengthy run of failures, while others have missed opportunities despite producing stronger performances. Former India batter Hanuma Vihari and ex-chief selector Kris Srikkanth have openly questioned why Abhishek continues to enjoy the management’s confidence. Both pointed towards Sanju Samson, who impressed during India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign but was left out of the Zimbabwe tour.
The debate has gained momentum among fans as well, with many calling for Samson’s return if Abhishek fails to regain form in the coming matches. Others, however, believe India’s long-term plans require patience with young match-winners capable of changing games within a few overs.
Suryakumar Yadav offers words of encouragement
While criticism continues to grow, Abhishek first acknowledged his disappointing performances through an emotional Instagram post after the Zimbabwe series.
“It hurts when you can’t give back what so many people believe you’re capable of. But this game always rewards those who keep showing up. Happy that the team got the win. Will be back stronger,” he wrote.
Soon after, Suryakumar responded with a message aimed at lifting the youngster’s confidence. The experienced batter reminded Abhishek of his contributions over the past two years and urged him not to lose faith during a difficult period.
“You have given so many reasons to smile for 2 years in a row, boyyyy. Given glory to INDIA when it mattered the most. Matter of time. Be yourself,” Suryakumar wrote.
