Last Updated:February 20, 2026, 19:18 IST
Abhishek Sharma faces scrutiny after three ducks in T20 World Cup 2026, but Morne Morkel backs him for India’s Super 8 clash against South Africa in Ahmedabad.
Abhishek Sharma (Picture Credit: AP)
The T20 World Cup 2026 is halfway through, and Abhishek Sharma, the dashing Indian opener, is yet to score a run. Three ducks in as many innings have put him under the spotlight, but the team management looks in no mood to get away from him. Instead, the 25-year-old is expected to get a long rope as the coaches believe his best is yet to come.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel dismissed any talk of dropping Abhishek Sharma from India’s first Super 8 fixture, against South Africa, on Sunday in Ahmedabad.
“Absolutely no discussion in our team group about that. He is a world-class player. So far in the tournament, luckily, we’ve had other guys standing up with Abhishek not scoring the runs you would like,” Morkel told the media.
“We’re going through a very important phase of the World Cup now, and I’m pretty sure he’s going to deliver. Not just for the team, but also for all the viewers watching the game, because he’s entertaining and we love to see that. He’s hitting the ball well in the nets. It’s just a matter of getting that start and getting his innings going,” Morkel added.
Earlier, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said the batters must be ready for tougher surfaces and bigger boundaries in the Super 8 stage, rather than relying on high-scoring pitches.
Speaking after India’s last group-stage fixture against the Netherlands, Doeschate admitted that having three left-handers — Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma — at the top allows opponents to plan more effectively against India. The assistant coach clarified that the issue is not specifically against off-spin but their overall approach to finger spinners, which needs improvement.
“It has (made it easier for teams to plan against India). We don’t have many options (in the top three). We have got Sanju sitting on the side and we feel on balance, particularly with the games coming up, if we look at what finger spin is, we are going to come up against New Zealand,” Ten Doeschate said.
“We have got a few guys who bowl finger spin and so do the West Indies and so does South Africa if you include Markram. But on balance, we still feel that these are our best batters and we are going to make do with the abundance of left-handers,” he added.
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First Published:
February 20, 2026, 19:10 IST
News cricket India To Drop Abhishek Sharma For Super 8 Match Vs SA? Morne Morkel Gives Big UpdateDisclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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