New Delhi, Feb 19 (NationPress) Indian opener Abhishek Sharma has faced a challenging beginning in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, marking his third consecutive duck in the team’s concluding group-stage match against the Netherlands. Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar suggests that the pressure of expectations may be impacting the 25-year-old, advising him to concentrate on developing his innings instead of attempting to hit boundaries too soon.

This unfortunate streak has placed Abhishek alongside Ashish Nehra for the most ducks recorded by an Indian in T20 World Cup history, exposing a rare downturn for one of India’s most dynamic batters.

“Abhishek Sharma is a wonderful player, but the weight of expectations appears to be on him. If he had begun well against the USA, things might have been different. Now, the burden of being a leading six-hitter and top batsman is evident. With his range of shots, he must spend more time in the middle. He can't aim for a boundary or six on his very first ball. If the big shots come, that’s great. However, he shouldn’t pressure himself into playing risky shots across the line,” Gavaskar commented on Star Sports.

Sharma’s difficulties commenced with a golden duck against the United States, followed by another swift dismissal against Pakistan and then the Netherlands. In all three matches, he was out in the first over while attempting aggressive plays before settling down. Gavaskar stressed the need for Abhishek to get off the mark and let his natural batting style unfold as the innings progresses.

“He should take a single to get off the mark. Four dot balls don’t matter. He can compensate later on. He needs to play wisely. Spend an hour or two getting settled, then unleash his natural game. First and foremost, just get that initial run. Every batsman craves their first run. Once he achieves that, everything will align,” he added.

Despite this rough patch, India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate expressed optimism regarding Sharma’s ability to recover, noting positive signs in practice following his recovery from an illness that had earlier sidelined him from the match against Namibia.

“He performed admirably in the nets last night, spending 90 minutes batting. It’s essential to give him some space. He entered the group phase feeling unwell, having spent a few days in the hospital and missing the game against Namibia. This tournament has been quite disappointing for him thus far. However, I observed some very promising signs with his ball striking last night. No need for concern; he’ll be ready when the second phase arrives,” he remarked.

With India moving forward to the Super 8s, the team management is optimistic that Sharma can swiftly regain his rhythm and become a crucial player in the tournament's decisive stages.