Opener Abhishek Sharma has been the missing piece in the puzzle in Team India’s lineup in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Expected to be at the top of the leaderboards, Abhishek registered three consecutive ducks and then a low score in the Super 8 game against South Africa. His services have been dearly missed as India have been overdependent on Ishan Kishan for fiery starts. Meanwhile, the batting coach Sitanshu Kotak feels there is not enough time to make changes in the technique. He wants the hard-hitting southpaw to plan his innings better and focus on watching the ball better.
"I think it's not like a struggle. Even today, I felt that he got a start. If you say a lot of things to the batsman at this time, it is more beneficial to not say anything to him. Every player has such a slack period of 2-3 matches. And it is the same time when five people think, 'let's go and tell him something," said the India batting coach after India’s 76-run defeat to South Africa.
"If you ask for my knowledge, I don't think you will be able to tell him in two days and change him. If anything, you will put more doubts in his mind. That is how I think. So, this is my coaching philosophy. If there is time, 15 days, you can do something. Otherwise, it is all about him watching the ball better.
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"He will have to plan his innings better, which we discuss - by talking to one or two people, in his comfort. For any player. Not only Abhishek. And he is such a player that you must have seen such phases in his IPL as well. I know that. But in such 2-3 matches, in such high-risk, high-reward situations, that thing is bound to happen. So, we have to be prepared for that."
Pace-off and off-spin trouble Abhishek
Abhishek has been troubled by off-spinners. The bowlers haven’t provided him with much pace to work with. For South Africa, Marco Jansen took the pace off and Abhishek miscued the shot.
On February 26, India are set to face Zimbabwe on a spin-friendly track of MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza is highly likely to bowl in the powerplay overs. A similar approach can be adopted by West Indies as well. The Shai Hope-led side have Roston Chase who is can be handed the new ball to exploit the new-found off-spin problem of Indian batters.