Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has urged patience with opener Abhishek Sharma after the young batter endured another failure in the T20 World Cup 2026 clash against Pakistan, saying the left-hander only needs time in the middle to rediscover his rhythm.

Abhishek, who returned to the side after recovering from a stomach illness, was dismissed for a duck for the second consecutive match. He had earlier fallen without scoring against the USA, raising concerns about his form at a crucial stage of the tournament.

Despite the struggles, Shastri expressed confidence that the explosive opener remains a match-winner in waiting.

“I think he’s due, but he just has to give himself a little bit of time,” Shastri said after India’s victory over Pakistan.

Hit-Or-Miss Pattern Raises Concerns

Abhishek’s recent numbers reflect a sharply inconsistent run. While he has produced impactful innings — including scores of 84 and an unbeaten 68 — they have been interspersed with multiple failures, including several ducks.

Such volatility is not uncommon for aggressive top-order batters, particularly those tasked with maximising powerplay scoring. However, repeated early dismissals can place pressure on the middle order and disrupt team balance in high-stakes tournaments.

Against Pakistan, the Indian opener fell to a tactical plan executed by Salman Ali Agha, continuing a trend where bowlers have targeted him with disciplined lines early in his innings.

Shastri acknowledged that temporary slumps are part of the game but stressed that the solution lies in adjusting approach rather than abandoning aggression altogether.

“Such things happen and you can go off the boil, but he just has to give himself a little more time until he gets back on track,” he said.

Kishan’s Brilliance Anchors India

While Abhishek struggled, wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan delivered a match-defining performance, scoring a fluent 77 off 40 balls to power India to a competitive total of 175. His innings ultimately proved decisive in securing the win over arch-rivals Pakistan.

Shastri was effusive in his praise, highlighting Kishan’s ability to read conditions quickly on a pitch where stroke-making was not straightforward.

“He’s batting like a dream at the moment,” Shastri said, noting that scoring at such a high rate on a sluggish surface was particularly impressive.

The contrast between Kishan’s assured knock and Abhishek’s early dismissal underscores the depth of India’s batting resources, allowing the team to absorb setbacks at the top.

India will next face the Netherlands in their final group-stage fixture on February 18, where Abhishek Sharma will be under scrutiny to convert starts into a meaningful contribution and regain momentum ahead of the knockout rounds.

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