India’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign has thrown up an unexpected storyline — the prolonged lean patch of their explosive opener, Abhishek Sharma. Touted as India’s destroyer-in-chief heading into the marquee tournament, Abhishek has endured a nightmare start, registering three consecutive ducks in his first three matches.
For a batter ranked world No. 1 in T20Is not too long ago, the sudden dip has been startling. India may have navigated their group-stage assignments, but Abhishek’s absence on the scoreboard has become a growing concern within the camp and among fans.
The numbers paint a worrying picture. In just eight T20I innings in 2026, Abhishek has already recorded five ducks — equalling the Indian record for most T20I ducks in a calendar year, previously held by Sanju Samson. Even more concerning, he has become the first batter in T20 World Cup history to begin a campaign with three successive zeros.
Sunil Gavaskar explains how Abhishek Sharma can get back his form in T20 World Cup 2026
Amid the scrutiny, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has stepped in with calm, measured advice rather than harsh criticism. Speaking during a broadcast analysis, the legendary batter suggested that the burden of expectations may be weighing heavily on the young opener.
According to Gavaskar, Abhishek’s role as the team’s premier six-hitter and headline act may have subtly altered his approach. Instead, three early failures appear to have tightened his mindset. Gavaskar believes that once self-doubt creeps in, even naturally gifted stroke-makers can lose rhythm.
“Maybe the expectations might be weighing just a little too heavily on him. He is a lovely guy. If he had got a flying start in the first game, things might have been different. But now, you can sense that the expectations of being the big guy, the six-hitter, the No. 1 batter in the team, might be weighing heavily on him,” said Gavaskar on Star Sports.
One of Gavaskar’s key suggestions was simple yet profound — give yourself time. In a format driven by urgency, that advice may sound counterintuitive. But the former captain stressed that Abhishek does not need to announce his arrival with a boundary or a towering six. Gavaskar advised him to avoid playing across the line early in the innings and instead focus on playing straight, assessing conditions, and building a base. Even a handful of dot balls at the start, he argued, should not trigger panic.
The veteran pointed out that a batter of Abhishek’s range can compensate quickly once settled. The key lies in surviving the initial phase and allowing instincts to take over naturally rather than forcing glory shots from ball one.
“I think with the range of shots he has, he has to give himself a little more time in the middle. Not be looking to open his innings with a boundary or a six. If he gets it, then fine – but looking to play across the line for the big shot, no. Even if there are four dot balls, it does not matter because in the next four to eight balls he can make up for that,” Gavaskar added.
Gavaskar on the key problem with Abhishek
Another concern flagged by Gavaskar was predictability. Opposition bowlers appear to have mapped Abhishek’s aggressive intent, setting traps accordingly. Without early strike rotation or quick singles, pressure has mounted, often leading to rash stroke-play. Gavaskar emphasized the importance of getting off the mark — a small but psychologically significant milestone. Rotating strike, feeling the pitch, and finding rhythm through singles can unlock a batter’s timing and confidence.
“He has to play smart cricket. He has to get the circulation in his legs. He has to get off the mark. If you are playing for India, you have to get off the mark and everything will fall in place. The way he is getting out is very predictable. When you take a couple of singles, you get a sense of the pitch. He will get a big score once he gets set,” Gavaskar added further.
