Former India and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fast bowler Varun Aaron has given advice to Abhishek Sharma amid his poor condition during the T20 World Cup 2026. Aaron said the opening batsman should avoid extra practice and support his natural instincts ahead of Team India’s Super 8 clash against South Africa.
Abhishek Sharma failed to score a single run in the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. He was out on zero three times in a row, which put him under immense pressure. Sharma was dismissed in the first over by off-spinners Salman Ali Aga and Aryan Dutt during the last two matches.
You can’t make any technical changes – Varun Aaron on Abhishek Sharma’s poor form
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Varun Aaron said that Abhishek Sharma should avoid changing his technique midway through the T20 World Cup 2026. Aaron said that Abhishek needs to stay positive and added that sometimes a little practice helps, as long as the batsman follows his instincts.
“In a tournament, within a tournament, you can’t make any technical changes. You don’t want to go into that area as a batsman or a bowler because it completely changes your mind about what you have to deal with in front of you and what you are doing. You don’t want to be in that place at all,” Aarons said.
“You just have to keep him in a good frame of mind, have good conversations with him, maybe not practice sometimes, just go out there, trust your instincts and play. And that’s what he’s been doing. If you talk about the first game against the United States, he had a brilliant shot, went straight to the fielder. After that, obviously, he’s been out for off spin,” he said.
I am sure things will work out on the field – Varun Aaron
Aaron said that Abhishek is also facing health problems during the tournament. He said illness or injury can sometimes disrupt a player’s flow. The fast bowler said that Abhishek should focus on staying stress-free and enjoying things off the field.
“In the last one year, he has been doing brilliantly in off spin, leg spin, left arm spin, fast bowling, everything. So, and this is not because of any technical change. He has also come out of an illness. Sometimes cricket is really a fun game,” Aaron said.
“A small incident like injury or illness can change your rhythm. And sometimes if you get too deep into your game instead of being in a good mental state, it can hinder you. And I think off the field he should do what he loves to do, and I’m sure things on the field will work out for him.”
I will be in conversation with Abhishek Sharma – Sanjay Bangar
During the same discussion, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar said that he would talk to Abhishek Sharma about what was working well when he was scoring freely. Bangar said he would avoid giving technical instructions.
“I would talk to him about what things he was doing so well when he was scoring so many runs. I would try to assess what he was thinking. What’s his mindset like? Is he rushing too much? Are there certain things troubling him?”
“Has he started doubting himself from an internal point of view? So I will not focus on where he hits the ball, how he reacts to the ball. So I am not going to do that,” Bangar said.
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