Ahead of the T20 World Cup final, Abhishek Sharma had been one of India’s principal batsmen. Despite currently holding the top spot in the ICC rankings among batsmen, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has suggested that Abhishek might be rested for the final.
The recommendation stems largely from Abhishek’s recent loss of form. In seven matches during the tournament, the young opener has accumulated just 89 runs. Notably, 55 of these came against Zimbabwe, leaving only 34 runs across the remaining six matches, which were scored as 0, 0, 0, 15, 10, and 9. This sequence of low scores has led many analysts to question his place in the playing XI.
Kaif, speaking on his YouTube channel, cited the example of West Indies opener Brandon King to explain his perspective. He remarked, “India can give Abhishek Sharma a break. He has already played many matches, and a change will not harm the team. In T20 cricket, you can rotate players. Brandon King was off form, so Roston Chase opened against India. They gave King five to six matches, but rested him before a crucial game. Bringing Sanju Samson into the side proved effective for the team.”
Should Abhishek be rested, there is little concern about India’s opening combination. Ishan Kishan, normally a number three batsman, could step up to open. Kaif believes multiple players could fill the role effectively.
He elaborated, “India has tested and reliable players. Rinku Singh scores consistently across formats—Test, Ranji Trophy, or IPL. Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj take wickets under all conditions. If you look towards the dugout, you’ll see Rinku Singh waiting. Why leave a player in form out when someone else isn’t scoring?”
Interestingly, spin bowler Varun Chakravarthy, like Abhishek, holds the number one ICC ranking in his category, but he too has struggled recently, conceding 64 runs in four overs during the semi-final. Kaif, however, expects Chakravarthy to retain his place for the final. “I don’t think they will drop Varun. They will work with him, and he may correct his line and length in the next match,” he said.
Kaif also drew a contrast between Abhishek and Sanju Samson. “Abhishek is relatively new to ICC tournaments, whereas Samson is an established player. Excluding ICC events, Abhishek’s record is impressive, but international tournaments are a different challenge. Samson has scored over 8,000 T20 runs. His ability to hit big and score consistently keeps him in the IPL’s top ten. Abhishek is young and still needs to refine his game—he isn’t fully ready yet.”
Abhishek Sharma’s T20 World Cup Performance
| Matches Played | Runs Scored | High Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 89 | 55 | Only half-century against Zimbabwe |
| Match 1 | 0 | – | Low score |
| Match 2 | 0 | – | Low score |
| Match 3 | 0 | – | Low score |
| Match 4 | 15 | – | Minor contribution |
| Match 5 | 10 | – | Minor contribution |
| Match 6 | 9 | – | Minor contribution |
| Match 7 | 55 | 55 | Against Zimbabwe |
Kaif’s recommendation underscores a broader strategy: to balance player workload while maintaining team strength, potentially allowing in-form alternatives like Rinku Singh or Ishan Kishan to step up for the final.
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