Suryakumar Yadav has thrown his full support behind young opener Abhishek Sharma despite the latter’s difficult start to the T20 World Cup 2026, insisting he is more concerned for future opponents than for his teammate’s form.
India, playing at home as defending champions, have progressed to the Super 8 stage, but Abhishek’s lean patch at the top of the order has drawn attention. The 24-year-old, featuring in his maiden T20 World Cup, has been dismissed for three consecutive ducks during the group stage matches against the United States of America, Pakistan and the Netherlands.
Despite the setbacks, the Indian captain remains unfazed, underlining the team’s faith in the explosive left-hander ahead of the crucial knockout phase.
Also read: T20 World Cup 2026 Injury List: Full Breakdown of Players Ruled Out and Replacements
Captain’s Vote of Confidence Ahead of Super 8
Speaking on the eve of India’s Super 8 clash against South Africa, Suryakumar dismissed concerns over Abhishek’s form and instead issued a warning to rival teams.
“I am worried about the people who are worrying about Abhishek Sharma. I am more concerned for the teams that will face him later,” Suryakumar said.
The Indian skipper emphasized that Abhishek had been instrumental for the national side in the previous year and deserved the team’s backing during this phase.
“He did everything last year, now it’s time for us to return the favour,” he added.
In 2025, Abhishek enjoyed a stellar run in T20 internationals, amassing 859 runs in 21 innings at an extraordinary strike rate of 193.46. Coming into the tournament with a strike rate exceeding 190, his current slump has come as a surprise to many. While some observers have pointed to slower pitches as a contributing factor, expectations remain high at this level of competition.
Collective Effort Masks Top-Order Struggles
India’s campaign so far has been driven by a collective team effort, which has somewhat softened the impact of Abhishek’s struggles. However, as the tournament moves into the decisive Super 8 stage, contributions from the top order will become increasingly vital.
The Men in Blue have faced stiff challenges in the group stage, including from associate nations, underlining the competitive nature of the tournament.
USA Clash Served as a ‘Wake-Up Call’
One of the most testing moments of India’s campaign came against the United States of America at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Sent in to bat first, India found themselves in deep trouble at 77 for 6 in the 13th over after a disciplined bowling performance from the USA.
Suryakumar led the recovery with a match-defining unbeaten 84 off 49 balls, steering India to safety. Reflecting on that encounter, the captain admitted it served as a crucial reminder.
“It’s very difficult to say there’s no pressure. When you’re playing on home soil there is definitely pressure. At the same time every individual deals with it differently. We’re trying our best to keep it simple. We try to be present and grounded. We got a good wake-up call against USA which helped us stay in the moment and not think too much,” he said.
As India prepare for the high-stakes Super 8 stage, the team management remains confident that Abhishek Sharma’s explosive batting will soon return potentially at the expense of their opponents.