Ravi Shastri Backs Abhishek Sharma Amid India-Pakistan T20 World Cup Drama

Former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri has voiced his support for star Indian opener Abhishek Sharma, urging him to remain patient during his current struggle with form. Sharma faced his second consecutive duck against Pakistan in the 2026 T20 World Cup in Colombo, marking his third such performance in the last five T20I innings. Shastri believes that lean phases are normal in a player's career and that Sharma just needs to give himself more time to adjust.

Shastri, speaking to Sanjana Ganesan as per the ICC website, emphasized that Abhishek Sharma’s return to form is imminent. Highlighting that Sharma's last significant innings was an unbeaten 68 against New Zealand, Shastri expressed confidence in his ability to convert dot balls into boundaries with more time at the crease.

In the same match, Ishan Kishan delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 77 off 40 balls and securing the Player of the Match award. Kishan's form was praised by Shastri, who noted his remarkable ability to score nearly 200 runs on the challenging Colombo pitch. Despite initial setbacks, India finished strong at 175/7, eventually winning the match as Pakistan faltered to 114 all out, ensuring India's progress to the Super 8 stage.