Former India head coach Ravi Shastri recently gave an honest take on opening batter Abhishek Sharma. This came after the big game in Colombo. Speaking to Sanjana Ganesan for the ICC, Shastri made it clear that the young left-hander just needs some room to breathe. India had just beaten Pakistan.
Ravi Shastri Tells Abhishek Sharma to Stay Patient
He mentioned that while Abhishek is due for a big score, he’ll get there if he gives himself time to settle before trying to smash everything. Shastri clearly believes that form comes and goes, but the kid hasn't lost his natural ability to find the boundary once he gets into a groove.
"I think he's due, but he just has to give himself a little bit of time," said Shastri.
Looking at Abhishek Sharma’s Recent Struggles
Abhishek Sharma is in a tough spot. He hasn't managed to score a single run in his two T20 World Cup games so far. It’s a bit of a nightmare start; he’s only the third player from a big team to begin a tournament with two straight ducks.
Abhishek Sharma's most recent exit was a four-ball zero against Pakistan. He still holds a top-tier ranking in T20 cricket, but his high-risk style hasn't worked on the slow Sri Lankan pitch. On top of that, a stomach bug earlier this month broke his rhythm. Now, the explosive opener is clearly still searching for the timing he had in previous games.
A Quick Look at the India-Pakistan Game
The R. Premadasa Stadium saw India dominate on February 15, 2026. The Men in Blue walked away with a solid 61-run win over their rivals. Even though India lost Abhishek Sharma in the very first over, Ishan Kishan went on a tear.
He smashed 77 off just 40 balls to help India reach 175/7. Pakistan never really got going against a sharp Indian bowling attack. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya tore through the top order. In the end, Pakistan fell for 114. This win kept India’s unbeaten run alive and officially put them in the Super 8.
How Abhishek Sharma Can Turn Things Around?
Abhishek Sharma needs to stop trying to go big right away and focus on staying at the crease during the power play. His first instinct is always to charge at both spinners and fast bowlers. But right now, the conditions mean he has to slow down a bit just to survive.
He should focus on hitting the middle of the bat and taking singles instead of trying to clear the ropes with every ball in the first over. If Abhishek Sharma can just get through those first ten balls, he can use his power to punish tired bowlers later on. Doing this would prove why legends like Shastri still have so much faith in his game.
