Abhishek’s Form and Confidence in Focus As World No. 1 T20 Batter Returns to Happy Hunting Ground

Mumbai: It all began with an upset tummy which derailed the juggernaut that Abhishek Sharma had been when this edition of the T20 World Cup got underway.Having finished as the second-highest run-getter in 2025 among top nations, Abhishek was touted to dominate the tournament but the law of averages seemed to be catching up with the world No. 1 T20 batter when he returned to the dugout with three ducks in as many matches.

Irrespective of his high-flying start to international cricket and even the pedigree that he carries, the past few weeks have shown that the game of cricket is replete with uncertainties and even the best in the business can look ordinary at the biggest stage.

While he thrived in dominating bowlers from all around the world to rapidly rise to the top of the world rankings in a format as fickle as T20Is, Abhishek has been forced to put his all-out approach on the back burner and most importantly, 'give himself some time in the middle'.

Now, not only he refrains from going after the bowlers from the first ball, but even chooses to defend a few -- something that surprised the legendary Sunil Gavaskar.

Not long ago, India captain Suryakumar Yadav was stuck in the quagmire of doing all that he could in the nets but hard work behind the scenes not translating in on-field success.

By his own admission, a simple process of taking time off the game benefitted him and when he did return, giving himself time in the middle resulted in Suryakumar banishing a woeful 2025 in style.

Abhishek seems to be following the same path as he has started to not go all-out from ball one, but he doesn't miss out on cashing in on any opportunity to score.

But as he wades his way through the puzzle of what should be the best approach, it is no exaggeration in saying that one of the country's brightest young stars is caught up in that place where several of other Indian players have been before. It is, of course, the one where all the attention is focussed on him but the going gets as tough as it can get.

So then, is it the case of Abhishek losing his confidence as he has also dropped a few catches of late?

"No, I think just sometimes this game can be hard on you, cruel on you. (It is a) similar situation that Sanju (Samson) found himself in, that, in your career, you're going to find moments like this," India's bowling coach Morne Morkel, who addressed the media on the eve of the semifinal, replied to a PTI query.

"This is good growth (opportunity); it's good learning for him. For a young guy finding his feet in international cricket, this will only help him down the line in Indian cricket."

The South African was confident that in case of Abhishek, it is always going to be the matter of one ball or two for finding his rhythm.

"Coming back to his form, Abhishek, (with) his way of playing, it's (about) one or two shots that can find him that rhythm, that can give him that confidence back, and that for me is a pleasing sign," Morkel said.

"He's not a guy that worries too much about technique. Normally those sort of players take a lot more time to get into confidence," he added.

India and England have met twice in the semifinal stage and both the teams have won a game each. In fact, the winner of these contests has eventually gone on to win the T20 World Cup as well.

It was exactly a year ago when Abhishek had announced his arrival at the Wankhede Stadium here in T20 Internationals, hammering an English attack, which had some of those bowlers he would face in the semifinal, for 13 sixes and seven fours in a 54-ball 135.

"It's a fresh page for him tomorrow (on Thursday), (an) opportunity to go and do well. (He had) scored a hundred here against England not too long ago," Morkel recalled.

"So for him, it's just (about) tapping into those little videos and looking at his feel-good moments and building a blueprint and knowing (that) he's starting on zero tomorrow. It's a new opportunity for him," he added.