Victory celebrations echoed in Kolkata after Sanju Samson’s 97 propelled India past West Indies into the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals. Yet, concern brews over Abhishek Sharma, the opener whose bat has gone silent.
On ESPNcricinfo, Anil Kumble delivered a candid assessment. ‘Abhishek appears mentally tangled with low confidence,’ he stated. Kumble called for team support to lighten the load, pointing out how wins intensify his need to contribute.
Insisting Abhishek stays in the XI for semis, Kumble highlighted his credentials. The top-ranked T20 batter has floundered here: three ducks in a row, a half-century vs Zimbabwe, and a mere 10 in the West Indies thriller.
An illness before the event threw him off, but Abhishek’s record screams class—1,377 runs in 43 T20 innings (44 matches), 189.40 strike rate, two centuries, nine half-centuries, max 135 (Indian record).
For India to conquer the semis and reach the final, Abhishek must unleash. Overcoming this slump could be the spark that ignites a title charge.