India’s explosive opener Abhishek Sharma came into the limelight on Tuesday during a high-intensity net session in Ahmedabad.
The left-hander unleashed a barrage of towering hits. Before India’s last Group A game of the T20 World Cup 2026 against Netherlands on February 18, 2026, Sharma was out on the pitch for over an hour, focusing mainly on the spinners as he worked to get into the groove.
Since India has already made it to the Super 8s, this last group stage fixture is being considered as the ideal “launchpad” for Abhishek to get the explosive touch back that had made him the star of the pre-tournament series against New Zealand.
Abhishek Sharma’s Ahmedabad Grind
The optional net session on the eve of the match was absolutely tense for the young southpaw, who seemed obsessed with his range against the slower bowlers. This was the time when Abhishek kept on hitting boundaries at cow corner and extra cover, thus challenging himself even more against the mystery spin of Varun Chakaravarthy. Head coach Gautam Gambhir stood looking intently as Abhishek once again entered his signature “destruction mode, ” launching several shots into the unoccupied orange seats at the world’s largest stadium.
Here is the video:
Weather update from Ahmedabad: Expect an ABHI-STORM! 🌪️
Abhishek Sharma gears up for the #INDvNED #T20WorldCup clash! 🙌
ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup #INDvNED | WED, FEB 18, 6:30 PM onwards pic.twitter.com/obNF29fU2B
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 17, 2026
T20 World Cup Struggle of Abhishek Sharma
Abhishek Sharma came into the tournament as the No.1 T20I batter, but his World Cup debut has been rough. He hasn’t scored a single run yet. First, he got out on the very first ball against the USA.
Then, in that tense game against Pakistan in Colombo, the 25-year-old lasted just four balls before heading back to the pavilion. In between those two tough outings, he had to sit out the Namibia match because of a nasty stomach infection. It’s been one setback after another, and his momentum just isn’t there right now.
Also Read: T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8: India’s Opponents, Full Schedule, Match Dates And Venues Confirmed
