Three Consecutive Ducks Leave Abhishek Sharma Yet To Score At T20 World Cup

India’s young batting sensation Abhishek Sharma has been at the centre of growing scrutiny during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where, despite high expectations, he has struggled to score runs in the tournament’s early stages. The setback comes after a breakout period in white-ball cricket for Sharma, who had emerged as one of the world’s most exciting T20 talents prior to the event.

Sharma’s early World Cup campaign has been marked by a sequence of low scores, including three consecutive ducks — dismissals for zero — in group-stage matches that have drawn criticism and raised questions about his current form. In India’s recent match against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad, he was dismissed without scoring for the third straight time, contributing to an ongoing slump. Despite his personal struggles, India maintained a perfect record in Group A and advanced to the Super Eight stage.

With expectations racing ahead of reality, cricketing great Sunil Gavaskar offered blunt but constructive advice aimed at helping Sharma reverse his fortunes. Gavaskar suggested the left-handed opener should focus on getting off the mark with a single first, rather than attempting to hit boundary shots immediately upon arrival at the crease — a strategy he believes could help rebuild confidence and rhythm. “Just knock a single first… then you can start banging after that,” Gavaskar said in an interview.

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Cricket analysts and former players have weighed in with broader interpretations of Sharma’s struggles. Some observers point to his naturally aggressive style, which has made him one of the fastest scorers in T20Is in recent seasons but also increases the likelihood of early dismissals when conditions or opposition bowling plans disrupt his timing. Opposition teams have reportedly employed tactics like early spin bowling to counteract his power-hitting intent.

India’s coaching staff have responded to the concerns with measured support. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has urged restraint in analysing Sharma’s performance, emphasizing that T20 cricket is inherently high-risk and that the team should avoid over-analyzing individual failures. Kotak reiterated that Sharma has a clear plan and mindset and reminded that players can get out early in this format without this necessarily indicating deeper technical problems.

The spotlight on Sharma reflects both the pressure on India’s star batters and the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket at the highest level. While Sharma retains the top spot in the ICC’s T20I batter rankings thanks to his prior performances, the current World Cup slump highlights how rapidly fortunes can shift in big tournaments — and how seasoned voices like Gavaskar’s seek to recalibrate expectations to focus on fundamentals.

If you’d like, I can also provide a brief timeline of his performances in this World Cup or a side-by-side comparison with other India openers’ form.

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