Abhishek Sharma's T20 World Cup Struggles Deepen With Third Straight Duck
Indian cricket fans are left wondering: how many ducks are too many for an opener? Abhishek Sharma faced this harsh reality once again on Wednesday during India's final group-stage match against the Netherlands in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup. The left-handed batter was dismissed for zero, failing to score a single run in what has become a troubling pattern throughout the tournament.
A Wild Swing and a Miss
The dismissal came on just the third ball of the first over at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Dutch off-spinner Aryan Dutt delivered a back-of-a-length ball on the middle and off stump that skidded in with the angle. Abhishek, perhaps frustrated after two consecutive dot balls, attempted a wild swipe but missed completely, watching helplessly as the ball crashed into his leg stump.
This marked the third consecutive duck for the young opener in the T20 World Cup, highlighting what has been a difficult campaign for the southpaw. His tournament began with a golden duck against the United States in India's opening match, followed by a hospital stay in New Delhi due to a stomach infection that ruled him out of the clash against Namibia. Upon his return against Pakistan on Sunday, he was dismissed for another duck, making this latest failure part of a concerning trend.
India's Strong Position Despite Opening Woes
Earlier in the day, India won the toss and elected to bat first against the Netherlands. Captain Suryakumar Yadav explained the decision at the toss, stating, "We are going to bat first. It looks like a good surface. We want to put runs on the board and put some pressure on the bowlers to defend the total."
The Men in Blue, who had already qualified for the Super Eights stage, were looking to complete the league phase with four wins from four matches to build momentum heading into the knockout rounds. The Netherlands, meanwhile, aimed for an upset in a tournament that has already showcased impressive performances from several associate cricket nations.
Team Changes and Strategic Rest
Suryakumar Yadav confirmed two changes to India's playing XI for this match. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh replaced Kuldeep Yadav, while all-rounder Axar Patel was "rested" with Washington Sundar getting an opportunity. The captain expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, noting, "The mood in the camp is really good and they are playing the brand of cricket I want them to play. Every game, someone is putting their hand up and that is good to see."
India's Playing XI: Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.
Netherlands Playing XI: Michael Levitt, Max O'Dowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards (wicketkeeper/captain), Zach Lion-Cachet, Roelof van der Merwe, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Kyle Klein, Noah Croes.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on whether Abhishek Sharma can break free from this slump and contribute to India's quest for T20 World Cup glory. His repeated failures at the top of the order present a significant concern for team management as they prepare for the more challenging Super Eight matches ahead.
