Abhishek Sharma’s weakness fully exposed? IPL coach drops bombshell on spin struggles

Abhishek Sharma has been struggling with poor form in the 2026 T20 World Cup. The left-handed opener is yet to open his account in this edition, as he has scored three consecutive ducks in the games he has played for India. Despite being the No.1 T20I batter, he has been struggling to get runs in the major event of the competition.

Abhishek Sharma, who struggled with a stomach bug and sluggish wickets that did not particularly respond to expansive bat swings, and his playing nature. The left-handed opener has 5 ducks in the last seven innings he has played in this format. This has been a concern for the Men in Blue management as he has been the side's best batter coming to this World Cup.

Abhishek Sharma one knock away from getting his form back

Abhishek Sharma has a strike rate over 192 in the format and has been the highest run scorer for India in the shortest format of the game post the T20 World Cup 2024. Despite a lean patch team India management is not worried about his form as he is just one run away from playing a big knock.

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Team India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak also believes that the Southpaw is just one knock away from being at his best form. However, the off-spin match-up against Abhishek has been successful, as in the India vs Pakistan game, Salman Ali Agha’s trick worked, dismissing him in the first over. In the Netherlands game as well, Aryan Dutt got rid of Abhishek in the very first over.

Spin-match up against Abhishek can turn fatal

India’s next game is against South Africa, who might be doing their homework against the explosive opener. Proteas captain Aiden Markram might take the new ball and bowl the first over, keeping the match-up in mind, or ask his slow left-arm orthodox bowler George Linde to keep things tight inside the powerplay.

Abhishek Sharma can rediscover his form against the Proteas if he keeps his cool and is watchful for the first few overs. Abhishek Sharma had a strike rate of 206.59 against spin in T20Is since the start of 2024, which was the best among those who have faced at least 100 deliveries.

Teams find Abhishek Sharma's weakness?

A well-known IPL franchise batting coach, who has researched and prepared game plans against Abhishek throughout the competition, clarified the situation. When asked if teams had finally decoded Abhishek's batting, he responded strongly, saying no.

The coach, who did not name his identity, said (as quoted by PTI), "Not at all. Caught at deep extra cover (first game) was a bad ball which could have gone for six, or left or right of the fielder by a foot and it's four."

"Bowled to an incoming ball from the off-spinner, as opposed to one turning away, doesn't suggest much. And caught at mid-on is neither here nor there."

The coach also suggested that though he has been dismissed twice against off-spinners, he hasn't overall struggled against them as per data, so that is not a concern for the southpaw. He concluded, saying, "He normally plays off-spin quite well. I haven't noticed anything untoward."

Also Read: Sanju Samson to replace Abhishek Sharma for Super 8s? ‘X-factor’ verdict emerges amid T20 WC 2026