Abhishek Sharma’s Slump Raises Fresh Concerns for India

Indian opener Abhishek Sharma is going through a rough patch that has selectors and fans worried. Over his last six T20 internationals, the left-hander has managed just 10, 16, 3, 1, 8 and 2 — a sequence that looks worse the closer you examine how each dismissal unfolded.

A Pattern That Keeps Repeating

The scores alone might be dismissed as a normal dip that most batters experience at some point. What’s more troubling is the manner of his dismissals. Abhishek appears to have committed to a single approach for this tour: shuffling away from the stumps and swinging hard, hoping to clear the infield through the off side. That method brought him fifties in Ireland and England early in the tour, but once bowlers adjusted, he had no alternative. The same soft dismissal — stepping away, slashing, and picking out a fielder or edging behind — has recurred match after match, including throughout the recently concluded Zimbabwe series.

Missing a Plan B

Unlike Suryakumar Yadav, who reworked his game during an earlier lean spell to become more well-rounded, Abhishek hasn’t shown the same adaptability yet. His technique still looks unsettled against the moving ball, and there’s no visible backup plan when his primary method fails.

Adding to the pressure is the emergence of teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, whose rapid rise has intensified competition for opening slots. With India’s next T20I assignment approaching, Abhishek faces a clear challenge: rethink his approach quickly or risk losing his place to the next wave of talent knocking at the door.