T20 World Cup 2026: ‘Mentally you must be prepared to take a single’ – Irfan Pathan advices Abhishek Sharma to change batting mindset after three ducks

T20 World Cup 2026: Abhishek Sharma (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Before the start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, many had predicted Abhishek Sharma to smash runs all around the park, but he is not even close with India’s group stage campaign over. Abhishek started with a golden duck against the United States of America and then had similar outcomes against Pakistan and the Netherlands as well. Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan believes there is a pattern behind this.

Pathan, who played a significant part in India’s 2007 T20 World Cup win, has said that the bowlers have prepared specifically to counter Abhishek’s attacking approach. Following the most recent duck that came against the Dutch off-spinner Aryan Dutt at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, Pathan believes that the teams have figured out a way to square Abhishek at all ends.

In the first match, there was no clear pattern to Abhishek’s dismissal. But in the last two matches, a pattern has emerged. Off-spinners have bowled at the stumps, almost targeting the leg stump line, not giving him any room, and keeping the mid-on fielder inside the circle. Against Pakistan, he was dismissed by a part-time off-spinner (Agha Salman). Then against Aryan Dutt, he was bowled in the very first over while playing across the line against off-spin,” Irfan explained in a video on his YouTube channel.

“At first, I felt there was no pattern. But when you get out in a similar manner twice, it means the opposition has a clear plan against you. The plan is simple: as an off-spinner, do not give him room. Today during commentary, I was discussing this with Harbhajan Singh. He used to bowl around the wicket to left-handers, angling the ball in. When a batter with a new ball is looking for a turn, he can get trapped. That is what happened with Abhishek Sharma,” Irfan added.

Abhishek goes across the line and gets trapped: Irfan

The cricketer-turned-commentator also wants the youngster to change his mindset while batting and be ready to play the mindful game rather than looking to hit a boundary on every ball that comes his way.

“But if an off-spinner comes on, my advice to him would be this: expect that they will not give you room. If your bat naturally comes across, ideally you should try to play straight down the ground. However, if you do not want to change your natural pattern completely, then mentally you must be prepared to take a single when the ball is slightly wide.

“If the ball is pitched up, you can adjust even if your bat comes slightly across, because you can reach it with your feet and still play straight. The real danger is when the ball is on a length and you follow your natural instinct to go across the line. That is where you get trapped. You are not being given room, so you must recognise that plan,” Irfan advised the India opener.

India will face South Africa in their first Super Eights encounter in Ahmedabad on February 22. It will be interesting to see if there is a makeshift adjustment in Abhishek’s approach when the Proteas are likely to bowl with their skipper Aiden Markram at him.

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