Kaif Urges Tough Decision on Abhishek Sharma Ahead of T20 World Cup Final

Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif has called for a 'tough' selection decision concerning World No. 1 T20I batter Abhishek Sharma as the Indian team prepares for the T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad on Sunday evening. Kaif took to the social media platform X to express his concerns over Sharma’s recent form struggles, suggesting the team management consider a change for the crucial match.

Abhishek Sharma has managed just 89 runs in seven innings during the tournament, with a solitary half-century against Zimbabwe. Kaif highlighted the dilemma, drawing parallels with Virat Kohli, who triumphed despite a form slump in a previous final. At the same time, there are calls for Rinku or Sanju Samson to replace Sharma.

As the final approaches, India and New Zealand came via different paths to this climax. New Zealand recovered from early losses to reach the final, boasting a record-breaking performance from Finn Allen. Meanwhile, India, who only stumbled in the Super 8s to South Africa, narrowly edged past England in the semifinals, setting the stage for a riveting contest amid historical statistics favoring the Kiwis in T20 World Cups.