Ravi Shastri believes Abhishek Sharma simply needs time and patience to shrug off a sudden slump after the young left-hander’s latest failure in the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 tie in Colombo. Ravi Shastri pointed to the mental side of batting — urging the No.1-ranked T20 batter to settle in rather than try to force shots early.
Abhishek’s duck in Colombo was his second consecutive golden duck in this World Cup and his third in five T20I innings, a worrying sequence for a man who began the tournament as the leading T20 batter in the world. Abhishek Sharma had last produced a T20I fifty six innings ago (68* vs New Zealand), so form — not technique — appears the main concern.
Ravi Shastri struck a supportive tone on-air, reminding viewers that streaks are temporary and confidence returns with one good, patient knock.
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“I think he’s due, but he just has to give himself a little bit of time. Such things happen, and you can go off the boil, but he’s just got to give himself a little more time until he gets back on track. Because for him to convert those dot balls later on into boundaries and sixes, is not difficult,” Ravi Shastri told Sanjana Ganesan, as quoted by the ICC website.
While Abhishek laboured, Ishan Kishan provided the firepower India needed. Ishan Kishan smashed a brilliant 77 off 40 balls on a testing R. Premadasa pitch, earning Player of the Match and proving once again that assessing conditions quickly can offset any early wobble.
The match flow reflected India’s collective balance. After choosing to bat, India posted 175/7; Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh steadied the middle overs and accelerated when required. Suryakumar Yadav’s tactical calm helped India navigate a tricky surface.
Pakistan’s reply never recovered after early strikes. Aided by incisive bowling from the likes of Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah, India reduced the chase to rubble. Axar Patel finished with 2/29, while Jasprit Bumrah (2/17) and Hardik Pandya (2/16) played key roles. Varun Chakravarthy chipped in with crucial overs as well. Varun Chakravarthy
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For Pakistan, the only bright spark was Saim Ayub, who returned 3/25 with the ball early on. Saim Ayub (note: he contributed with the ball) but his efforts weren’t enough as Pakistan were bundled out for 114.
India’s 61-run win sealed a Super 8 spot and extended their T20 World Cup head-to-head edge over Pakistan. For Abhishek, the takeaway is clear: technical tweaks are minor now — time at the crease and mental reset are the priorities. If he follows Shastri’s advice and regains that composure, one tidy innings could quickly rewrite his World Cup story.
