Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers recently gave advice to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opener Abhishek Sharma ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The great batsman urged Abhishek to analyze his batting technique, making a direct comparison with how Virat Kohli handles pressure.
Sharma is currently ranked No. 1 in T20Is but recently suffered an inconsistent campaign during the T20 World Cup 2026. Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on March 28. The Hyderabad-based franchise will be hoping that he makes an impact in the marquee tournament.
Virat Kohli will constantly analyze his game – AB de Villiers on Abhishek Sharma’s struggles
Speaking on Star Sports, AB de Villiers said that Abhishek Sharma should work on external expectations after consecutive low scores. The former RCB star said that Virat Kohli overcame similar challenging phases during his career by constantly analyzing his game.
AB de Villiers said on Star Sports, “When you are feeling pressure from outside, you just have to keep working on your game. That is one of the things that I have seen in Virat over the years. He constantly analyzes his game and Abhishek is right there right now.”
He said, “Don’t suffocate because of the pressure. Instead, embrace it and love it. Go back to the nets and be that kid again, who loves the game and has passion for it, to learn new things about himself. If he has that kind of mindset, he will be fine.”
Abhishek Sharma will have to make this change – Anil Kumble’s advice
Former Team India captain Anil Kumble also talked about the aggressive batting style of Abhishek Sharma. The great leg spinner stressed that the opening batsman must control his natural attacking instincts and improve his approach against off-spin bowlers.
Anil Kumble said, “One thing he has probably adjusted now is the off-spin. To be a great player or to be consistent, what is important is not what you can do, but what you should not do, and how you can control it in your mind, that will be important. That is what Abhishek Sharma has to change.”
“With the style he goes with, relying on the intimidation factor, it is very difficult to get consistent batting performances. He has enjoyed playing for SRH because it is the kind of lineup where you have the freedom to bat freely,” he said.
Sharma’s inconsistent T20 World Cup 2026 campaign
During the T20 World Cup 2026, Abhishek Sharma scored only 141 runs in eight innings at an average of 17.63. He recorded ducks against the United States, Pakistan and the Netherlands before scoring 55 against Zimbabwe.
However, Abhishek performed well when it mattered most, scoring 52 runs off 21 balls against New Zealand in the final. He and Sanju Samson made a huge partnership of 98 runs for the first wicket, which helped India seal a stunning 96-run title win.
In IPL 2025, the left-handed batsman scored 439 runs at an average of 439 runs in 13 innings. 33.77 more A strike rate of 193.39, which included one century and two half-centuries. However, the Hyderabad-based franchise failed to qualify for the playoffs, finishing sixth in the ten-team points table.
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