Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has thrown his weight behind young opener Abhishek Sharma after the left-hander’s difficult start to the T20 World Cup 2026. Following consecutive ducks — including a four-ball dismissal in the high-profile India vs Pakistan clash in Colombo — concerns have grown around the youngster’s form. But Harbhajan believes it is only a temporary phase.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan Singh urged Abhishek to remain confident and trust his ability. “Abhishek Sharma is a strong player, he should not be demoralised. He was breaking the backs of everyone just a couple of months back, and that time will come again. He should believe in himself. He should learn from these two matches and move forward,” he said.
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The former spinner went a step further, offering public reassurance. “We are all with you, the team is with you, the management is with you, the whole nation is with you. We have full faith in Abhishek. He is going to come good in this tournament when Team India needs him the most,” Harbhajan added.
Abhishek’s dismissal against Pakistan came early and unexpectedly. Despite India fielding a strong spin attack, it was Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha who made the decisive move by bringing himself into the attack in the first over. The tactic paid off instantly as Abhishek mistimed a straightforward shot to mid-on, where Shaheen Shah Afridi completed a comfortable catch.
However, India quickly recovered. Ishan Kishan counterattacked brilliantly with 77 off 40 balls, guiding India to a competitive 175. Pakistan’s chase never gathered pace, with Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Varun Chakravarthy dismantling the batting order.
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Pakistan were bowled out for 114, sealing a commanding 61-run victory for India. The result extended India’s T20 World Cup dominance over Pakistan to 8-1 and secured qualification for the Super 8 — with belief that Abhishek’s comeback innings may just be around the corner.
