T20 WC 2026: Ravi Shastri wants to drop Abhishek Sharma in the semi-final, but on one condition

Former Indian coach and commentator Ravi Shastri has reckoned that the Indian team management needs to take a call on Abhishek Sharma’s place in the playing XI for the much-anticipated semi-final against England based on where he is mentally.

Speaking exclusively to the ICC Review podcast, Shastri added that he would bring Ishan Kishan to open the innings if Abhishek Sharma misses out from the XI, suggesting that this would also open a slot for Rinku Singh in the middle order as a finisher.

It’s worth noting that Abhishek Sharma is having a poor tournament, mustering only 95 runs from four innings at an average of 31.66 and a strike rate of 118.75 with a half-century against Zimbabwe in the Super8 round.

"Unless the team management realises that, mentally he's not there. If mentally, his mindset has taken a beating, it is for them to judge from the outside, in conversations with him, just seeing the way he is batting in the nets," Ravi Shastri said on the ICC Review.

"If that is the case, then and only then will I think of putting Ishan Kishan up the order and then probably Rinku Singh bringing him, at the bottom. That could be the only change, but I would still persist with him because last time India played England, he had a terrific series against them," Shastri said.

Additionally, Shastri also recalled the last time Abhishek played England at Wankhede last year, where he scored a 54-ball 135, which could play a crucial role in the semi-final at the same ground on Thursday, March 5.

"I would not take that away at the Wankhede. He has done well in the past. He's got some big hundreds there and very quick hundreds. I will persist with him because there is enough firepower in that batting," he concluded.

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