T20 World Cup 2026 has dealt a harsh hand to Abhishek Sharma. The 25-year-old opener’s tournament reads like a horror story: golden ducks in three straight games – USA, Pakistan, Netherlands. All first-ball dismissals. Enter Sunil Gavaskar, who pins the blame on excessive pressure and prescribes a simple fix.
During Star Sports commentary, Gavaskar unpacked the issue. ‘Great talent, but expectations are too much. USA start was decent, now he’s pushing for sixes prematurely. With his skills, middle-over occupation is key. No need to attack ball one aggressively.’ He urges restraint: ‘Take a single, face dots, settle. Natural flow will bring big shots later.’
This slump underscores T20’s mental battles. Gavaskar boils it down: ‘First run is gold. Get it, build from there.’ Sharma’s early wickets have hurt India’s powerplay momentum.
Support from within bolsters hope. Ryan ten Doeschate, assistant coach, saw vintage Sharma in nets. ‘Batted 90 minutes flawlessly. Tough run with hospital time and missing Namibia clash, but ball-striking screams readiness. Expect fireworks soon.’
India’s campaign hinges on openers firing. If Sharma embraces Gavaskar’s ‘crease time’ mantra, he could turn ducks into ducks of delight for opponents.