“Bowlers are not giving him room” - Irfan Pathan on Abhishek Sharma’s struggles in T20 WC 2026

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has voiced his opinion on the explosive opener Abhishek Sharma’s struggles in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which is currently underway in India and Sri Lanka.

Speaking exclusively on JioHotstar, Pathan delved into the technical details of Sharma’s struggles against the off-spinners, revealing that the opener’s problem lies in his shot selection as he is attempting to play across the wicket.

"Abhishek Sharma is getting out to off-spinners. Against Pakistan and the Netherlands, off-spinners got him. The problem lies in his shot selection. His bat comes down from a high angle, and he is not looking to hit straight. He is trying to play across the wicket. That is getting him into trouble. He moves his front foot away to create room, but bowlers are not giving him room. They are bowling wide, not close to him. These are not drivable balls. These are balls you either take a single on or, if you hold your shape, you can hit one-bounce fours. That is what Salman Ali Agha and Aryan Dutt bowled to him,” Pathan said on JioHotstar.

Additionally, Pathan has shared a valuable piece of advice for Abhishek, stating that he should look to get off the mark against the off-spinner Aiden Markram by taking a single and later aim to target pacers.

“South Africa will do the same. His bat angle is coming across, which is natural to him. He does not need to change that. If he tries to change it now, it will be a mess. He has not scored runs. First things first, get a single, get off the mark. Expect the spinner to come in, get to the other end, and target the fast bowlers. When Markram comes on to bowl to him, he does not need to bludgeon from the first ball," he added.

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at Sky365 and download the Sky365 App to start betting today!