Ahmedabad, Feb 22 (NationPress) Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has examined Abhishek Sharma’s difficulties against off-spinners in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. He points out that the opener’s shot selection is the main factor contributing to his early dismissals.

The No.1 T20I batter is yet to register a run in the tournament, having recorded three consecutive ducks. Abhishek's performance will be under scrutiny as India faces South Africa in their first Super 8s match at the Narendra Modi Stadium this Sunday.

“Abhishek Sharma is falling prey to off-spinners. Against Pakistan and the Netherlands, he was dismissed by their off-spinners. The issue lies in his shot selection. His bat comes down from a high angle, and he is not aiming to hit straight but is trying to play across the wicket. This is causing his troubles,” Pathan shared on Jio Hotstar.

“These deliveries are not drivable. They are balls you either take a single on or, if you maintain your shape, you can hit one-bounce fours. That was the approach from Salman Ali Agha and Aryan Dutt against him, and South Africa will employ similar tactics,” he added.

“His bat angle is naturally across, and he doesn’t need to change that. Altering it now may lead to complications. He must first focus on getting a single to get off the mark. When the spinner comes on, he should aim to get to the other end and focus on the fast bowlers. When Markram bowls to him, he should not feel pressured to attack right away,” Pathan continued.

He also lauded Ishan Kishan for his remarkable form, describing it as the pinnacle of his career. He noted that Kishan has been formidable on the leg side but might face a different kind of challenge against the Proteas.

“Ishan Kishan is in fantastic form. He is playing the leg-side exceptionally well, targeting square-leg and fine-leg. When bowlers alter their strategies, he steps out and aims for long-on and mid-on as well. In this T20 World Cup, bowlers have allowed Ishan to operate in his preferred leg-side area, while he doesn’t emphasize the off-side much,” the 41-year-old commented.

“However, against South Africa, the dynamics may shift. Every batter has their go-to shot. If you bowl short to Rohit Sharma early, he will punish you. The same goes for Ishan Kishan. If you provide him leg-side deliveries at the start, it could spell trouble. I’m keen to observe how Kishan responds when they bowl wide and compel him to play on the off-side early on. I’m not suggesting he can’t play there; he has improved significantly, but only after settling in,” he concluded.

Kishan has been India’s standout batter in the tournament so far, amassing 176 runs across four matches at an impressive strike rate of 202.29, which includes two half-centuries.