Why is Abhishek Sharma struggling in T20 World Cup 2026?

Abhishek Sharma’s swashbuckling approach at the top was one of India’s strengths in the build-up to the T20 World Cup 2026.

In this World Cup cycle, the southpaw had scored 749 runs in the PowerPlay at a whopping strike rate of 184.48. This was the second-best scoring rate by a batter from a Full-Member nation.

However, the Indian opener has seen a sharp drop in form in this World Cup. In seven games so far, he has scored just 89 runs, including three consecutive ducks — against USA, Pakistan and the Netherlands.

While an illness at the start of the tournament impacted his performance early on, teams have picked on certain weaknesses in Abhishek’s game and exploited them.

What are Abhishek Sharma’s strengths and weaknesses?

Abhishek has proactively looked for room when attacking early on. He holds a strike rate of 174.35 on deliveries pitching outside the off-stump line. Against deliveries on this line, he has a dismissal rate of 21 (balls faced per wicket).

But he has been prone to dismissals on deliveries that pitch in the line of the stumps. The dismissal rates at the off-stump and middle-stump lines are 12.1 and 18, respectively. Abhishek is prone to falling even on balls pitching down leg with a dismissal rate of 16.

In this World Cup, teams have exploited this weakness, especially by deploying spinners.

Which bowling match up is working against Abhishek Sharma?

Four of Abhishek’s seven dismissals in this World Cup have been against spinners. The lines in these four dismissals have been off-stump, leg-stump, and down leg (twice). Against spinners on these three lines, Abhishek has scored just 21 runs off 22 balls.

Further, tackling back-of-a-length and short length has been a problem for Abhishek in the tournament. All seven dismissals have been at these two lengths.

In the semifinal against England, off-spinner Will Jacks nabbed him. Earlier in the World Cup, Pakistan’s Salman Agha and Netherlands’ Aryan Dutt, both off-spinners, had accounted for him.

Going by this evidence, New Zealand is likely to use offie Cole McConchie in the PowerPlay against Abhishek.

Is Abhishek Sharma’s shot selection a problem?

Abhishek’s high-risk shot selection has also come under scrutiny with these dismissals. In six of the seven wickets, Abhishek was looking for a slog through the on side.

Hence, teams have started stationing fielders at deep midwicket and deep square leg. He has been lured in this trap multiple times, holing out to either deep midwicket, deep square leg or long on on five occasions.

How can Abhishek Sharma fix it in the final?

To end his string of low scores, Abhishek can look at playing straighter and avoiding across-the-line slogs. “Against off-spinners who will try to cramp him for room, Abhishek has to try to play straighter. He has to be mentally ready to work the length balls for singles, and try to attack the fuller ones,” Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

Published on Mar 08, 2026