Follow UsIndia’s in-form T20I opener Abhishek Sharma has almost developed a trademark move - charging down the track on the very first ball he faces. However, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes that oppositions have already started taking note of this pattern and will come well-prepared for him at the 2026 T20 World Cup, to be held in India and Sri Lanka in February-March.
The top-ranked T20I batter has been in exceptional touch in 2025, smashing 756 runs in 17 innings at an average of 47.25 and a strike rate of 196.36. He was also named Player of the Series in India’s 2–1 T20I series win over Australia, where he scored 163 runs in five innings at an average of 40.75 and a strike rate of 161.39.
“Abhishek Sharma got the Player of the series award and he has been playing fearlessly but we are talking about bilateral series here. Although Asia Cup was a multi-nation series. But teams are well-prepared in World Cups. If Abhishek Sharma steps out and plays every time, teams will start working him out. So, he must pick and choose and I’m sure team management will be concentrating on this. Even Yuvraj Singh will be focusing on it. I will even speak to Yuvi (laughs),” Pathan said on his YouTube channel, as reported by The Indian Express.
Pathan further suggested that Abhishek’s aggressive intent needs a more tactical approach, especially against quality bowling attacks. “Abhishek will also be thinking that he cannot step out to every bowler in every inning. So, planning can be better. In this game, two catches were dropped off his bowling and even if one would’ve been taken, his innings would have ended.”
While Abhishek finished as the leading run-scorer in the T20I series against Australia, he was also dropped multiple times during his knocks. He particularly struggled against Nathan Ellis, who dismissed him three times in the series. “He will play the same way. It’s high-risk cricket and it has high reward but sometimes people may think ‘What shot was this?’ But fearless cricket should also have some rationale and planning.
“I’m sure Abhishek Sharma will be focusing on this. If he is stepping out, which bowler he needs to do it against. Second thing is, Nathan Ellis troubled him; hence, bowlers around the world will bowl to him with variation in the powerplay. Hence, he needs to focus on that, especially the bat flow. If slower ones come with varied pace – because balls can come up to head high, we saw that in Australia. Hence, Abhishek must work on these things.”