In the pressure cooker of T20 World Cup 2026, Indian opener Abhishek Sharma is enduring a brutal slump. Consecutive golden ducks in matches against USA, Pakistan, and Netherlands have silenced fans expecting fireworks from the young gun. Sunil Gavaskar, India’s batting oracle, attributes this to overburdened expectations and offers a roadmap back to form.
Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar was candid. ‘Expectations are crushing him. He had a good start against USA, but now it’s all about proving he’s a big-hitter. That’s the trap.’ He advocates patience: ‘Spend time on the crease. Use your range wisely. Don’t force big shots from ball one. A single to open, endure dots if needed, then play your natural game.’
Sharma’s predicaments began with that first-ball exit versus USA, snowballing into outs against top teams. Gavaskar stresses basics: ‘Every batter craves that first run. Nail it, and the rest follows.’ This philosophy could rescue Sharma’s tournament.
Optimism flows from the camp. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate praised recent nets: ’90 minutes of solid batting, excellent striking. He’s battled illness and absence, but I’m not worried. He’ll fire up in the business end.’
With group stages heating up, Sharma’s ability to heed Gavaskar’s counsel – prioritizing crease time over instant glory – will be pivotal for India’s title charge.