New Delhi, February 18. Abhishek Sharma’s bat has been eerily silent in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. The young left-hander has played two matches and returned to the pavilion without troubling the scorers in either. His latest dismissal came against Pakistan, where he faced just four deliveries before perishing for a duck. Yet, former India spinner Piyush Chawla remains unfazed, insisting there’s no cause for alarm.
Speaking exclusively to JioHotstar, Chawla dismissed concerns over Sharma’s lean patch. ‘Honestly, there’s nothing to worry about Abhishek’s form,’ he stated. ‘We’ve all witnessed what he can do over the past 18 months. He’s a high-risk player who reaps big rewards from that approach. With such batters, patience is key.’
Chawla delved deeper into Sharma’s batting style, highlighting his prowess against bowlers. ‘As a bowler facing Abhishek, you can’t afford mistakes. His strike rate dips only when the ball is in that tricky two-meter slot, especially with a new ball swinging. Otherwise, it’s consistently high.’
Meanwhile, under skipper Suryakumar Yadav, India has stormed into the Super 8 stage with three consecutive victories. The team faces Netherlands in their final group game on Wednesday. Chawla predicts a potential tweak in the playing XI, with pacer Arshdeep Singh possibly replacing spinner Kuldeep Yadav to bolster the attack.