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After India's dominant 93-run win over Namibia, Varun Chakaravarthy made big claim at Abhishek Sharma's availability for the T20 World Cup 2026 clash against Pakistan. Chakaravarthy, who bagged a robust spell of 3/7 against Namibia, is optimistic about Abhishek playing the high-voltage clash against Pakistan, which is slated to be played on February 15 in Colombo.
Will Abhishek Sharma play IND vs PAK clash? Varun Chakaravarthy reveals
Abhishek has endured a challenging start to his maiden T20 World Cup. After a golden duck in the opener against the USA, he was sidelined by a severe stomach infection that required a hospital stay and forced him to miss the subsequent match against Namibia.
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In a positive turn of events for the Indian camp, the young opener was seen back at the Arun Jaitley stadium during the Namibia game, watching from the dugout. Chakaravarthy confirmed that Abhishek has already resumed light practice sessions, signaling that his recovery is well underway. While captain Suryakumar Yadav previously hinted that Abhishek might need another game or two to achieve full fitness, his presence at the ground has boosted hopes that he could be ready for the critical trip to Colombo.
As far as I have spoken to him, he looks good: Chakaravarthy
The team management remains cautious, however, as the infection has reportedly impacted the batter's stamina. Should Abhishek be unable to recover in time for Sunday, Sanju Samson is expected to continue in the opening role. Nonetheless, the sight of the world’s No. 1 batter back in the training nets is a promising development for an Indian side looking to maintain its perfect record in the tournament.
"I think he will play the next match. As far as I have spoken to him, he looks good. He did some practice today. He said he is on the way," Varun told broadcasters after the match.
In Abhishek's absence, Sanju Samson stepped up to open the innings, showcasing his power with a quickfire 22 off just 8 balls, including three sixes. However, the decision to have Ishan Kishan retain the wicketkeeping duties suggests that the team management currently views Samson as the primary backup option for the opening slot rather than a permanent fixture behind the stumps.
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If Abhishek is cleared to return by the time the squad reaches Colombo, India will have successfully navigated a period plagued by early availability issues. The team has already seen the return of Jasprit Bumrah, who sat out the USA match due to illness. He made an immediate impact against Namibia, claiming a wicket with a classic yorker and contributing 20 economical runs across his four overs, while also proving his fitness with an athletic diving catch.
Further boosting the squad's depth, Washington Sundar has officially rejoined the group. Having been sidelined with a side strain that kept him out of the Mumbai leg of the tournament, the all-rounder was seen back on the sidelines in Delhi, fulfilling his team duties. His return provides the Men in Blue with an additional spin-bowling option as they prepare for the high-intensity stages of the competition.
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