Indian opener Abhishek Sharma opened up on how head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Suryakumar Yadav backed him while the batter was struggling to find his rhythm at the start of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Abhishek Sharma on Suryakumar Yadav, Gautam Gambhir's backing
Abhishek failed to get a good start in the T20 World Cup 2026 as he was dismissed on a duck in the first three outings of the marquee event. After that, he managed 15 against South Africa but still struggled to find his rhythm. However, everything changed when he struck a confident 55 against Zimbabwe on Thursday, finally getting back among the runs. Speaking to the BCCI after the win, Abhishek said the backing from the team management made all the difference.
“It didn’t start the way I wanted, I was actually in the hospital and I wasn’t feeling so well, that you know, playing the first game for the country and that also in the World Cup, a positive start or maybe the best start I wanted, but still I feel the support, the love the teammates, they all have showed me throughout all these days, especially the coach and captain, no matter if you do another zero, probably get out early, you’re gonna play all the games, you’re gonna win the games for the team. So I think that’s very important as a player, to have that support from the team and the coaches," Abhishek told the BCCI after the win over Zimbabwe.
Abhishek Sharma's performance
The message was clear, even if he failed again, his place in the side was safe. That kind of trust is not often seen in Indian cricket, where pressure to perform is always high. But for Abhishek, who had an outstanding run last year and even climbed to career-best ICC ratings, the faith shown in him proved crucial.
ALSO READ: CM Omar Abdullah flies to Hubballi to cheer Jammu and Kashmir in historic Ranji Trophy final
“It’s actually meant like, you are in a family only, it’s not just a team, so you are that close with all of the teammates and all the coaches that they actually want you to do well, and I was just waiting for this day," he added.
India's upcoming T20 World Cup outing
India will now face the West Indies in their last T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight clash which will take place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. This will going to be a virtual knockout as the winner of that clash will seal their berth in the semifinal.