Struggling Abhishek Sharma returns to the scene of his dazzling hundred
abhishek sharma has been under scrutiny after a lean run in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, and he faces England in a semi-final on the eve of the match (ET). The 26-year-old opener has managed just 80 runs in six matches, including a highest score of 55 against Zimbabwe. India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel has publicly backed him to rediscover form and confidence before the knock-out clash.
Abhishek Sharma’s recent form
The numbers laid out in the tournament tell a clear story: 80 runs from six matches, a top score of 55 against Zimbabwe and three consecutive ducks at the start of the campaign. Those early failures have invited scrutiny over whether the left-hander’s confidence has been dented at a marquee event. Yet the context also contains reminders of what he is capable of — just over a year ago he produced an explosive 135 off 54 balls at the Wankhede Stadium against England in a T20I, a performance the team and fans recall as a high watermark.
Morne Morkel backs Abhishek to find his mojo
On the eve of India’s semi-final against England (ET), Morne Morkel, India’s bowling coach, framed the situation as a common professional trough rather than a crisis. “No, I think just sometimes this game can be hard on you, cruel on you, similar to the situation that Sanju found himself in, ” he said, pointing to a precedent in teammate Sanju Samson’s revival with a match-winning knock against the West Indies.
“In your career you’re going to find moments like this and this is good growth for him, it’s good learning for him, for a young sort of guy finding his feet in international cricket, this will only help him down the line and for Indian cricket, ” Morkel added. He highlighted that one or two successful shots can restore a player’s rhythm and urged Abhishek to treat the semi-final as a fresh page and an opportunity to rekindle form.
Knockout rivalry and the stakes ahead
India meet England in a T20 World Cup semi-final for the third consecutive tournament, intensifying an already gripping knockout rivalry. Past semi-final history is mixed: a record-breaking partnership between England players influenced the 2022 result, while India fought back strongly to beat England by 64 runs in the 2024 edition. Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 97 from 50 balls in a recent quarter-final produced the momentum that carried India into the last four, and the team will look for similar decisive contributions.
What’s next for abhishek sharma
The immediate focus is simple and stark: reset and perform. Morkel emphasised that the semi-final presents “a fresh page” and that the opener should draw on his previous match-winning blueprint. For abhishek sharma the contest against England offers both a high-pressure test and a chance to reclaim the form that produced a breathtaking 135 at Mumbai not long ago. The next developments will be watched closely: will the left-hander respond with a confidence-restoring knock, or will selectors and team management have to reassess options ahead of the tournament’s climax?
