Abhishek Sharma Slump in T20 World Cup: What Went Wrong and How India Opener Can Bounce Back

Abhishek Sharma entered the T20 World Cup as the world’s No.1 T20I batter and one of India’s biggest hopes. But four matches into the tournament, the explosive left-hander finds himself in an unexpected slump, with just 15 runs and three ducks to his name.

For a player who dominated the lead-up to the tournament with two centuries and eight fifties, the sudden dip in form has left fans and experts searching for answers.

What Has Gone Wrong?

Abhishek’s struggles appear to be a mix of physical setbacks and mounting mental pressure.

Ahead of the tournament, he spoke confidently about preparing for opposition strategies. He anticipated that teams would target him with slower balls and early spin. Yet, despite preparation, he has been repeatedly undone by exactly those tactics.

His campaign began under difficult circumstances. During India’s match against the USA, Abhishek was reportedly battling a high fever. Soon after, he was hospitalised due to food poisoning and missed a game. Returning straight into the high-pressure India vs Pakistan clash, he fell for a four-ball duck.

Former cricketer Shreevats Goswami believes the issue is more mental than technical. According to him, Abhishek may be overthinking and placing excessive expectations on himself.

The pressure is understandable. Abhishek played a key role in India’s rise in T20Is and climbed to the top of the rankings. Naturally, expectations soared.

Struggles Against Spin

One surprising aspect of Abhishek’s slump is his difficulty against off-spin — traditionally a strength of his. In the Indian Premier League, he has often dominated spin bowlers while his franchise partner focused on pace.

However, in this World Cup, bowlers have taken pace off and forced him into risky shots. Pakistan, Netherlands and South Africa all targeted him with spin early. Instead of building an innings, Abhishek has often attempted high-risk strokes from the outset.

Experts believe his current approach reflects 80% risk and only 20% control — a dangerous ratio in a global tournament.

Is It Technical?

India captain Suryakumar Yadav and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak have publicly backed him, insisting there are no visible technical flaws. In the nets, Abhishek continues to strike the ball cleanly.

The team management has adopted a hands-off approach, avoiding excessive advice to prevent additional pressure.

How Can He Fix It?

The solution may lie in simplifying his game. Instead of chasing sixes from ball one, Abhishek could focus on finding boundaries, rotating strike, and building confidence with 20–30 runs before accelerating.

Reducing ego, resetting expectations, and playing for the team rather than personal milestones may help free his mind.

With India facing a must-win clash against Zimbabwe national cricket team, the timing could not be more crucial. A return to form from Abhishek could not only boost India’s Net Run Rate but also revive their semi-final hopes.

In high-pressure tournaments, redemption can come quickly. If Abhishek finds rhythm in the next game, it might mark the turning point — for both him and India’s T20 World Cup campaign.