India’s qualification for the final of the T20 World Cup 2026 has brought a lot of excitement for the fans, but Abhishek Sharma is under severe pressure ahead of the title clash with New Zealand. Sanju Samson openly supported Abhishek Sharma after India’s thrilling win over England in the semi-finals, but his words have added more spice to the struggling batsman.
Abhishek’s struggles continued in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against the England national cricket team at the famous Wankhede Stadium, where he once again failed to make an impact and departed after scoring only nine runs.
The young Indian opening batsmen are struggling badly against off-spin and the same weakness of England has also come to the fore. Nevertheless, Abhishek is getting full support from the Indian cricket team management and teammates. The left-handed batsman has scored only 89 runs in seven innings in the ongoing tournament at an average of 12.71 and a strike rate of 130.88.
Also read: Varun Chakraborty isolated before T20 WC final, ordered to stay away from Team India for 2 days
Jiji Bhai and Surya have a lot of trust and confidence in Abhishek Sharma: Samson
Still, there is a positive atmosphere inside the Indian dressing room. The Indian coach, especially Gautam Gambhir, captain Suryakumar Yadav and senior players believe that one good innings can completely change the story of Abhishek.
Now, Samson has expressed confidence that the T20 World Cup 2026 final could be the right time for Abhishek to make a comeback. The Indian wicketkeeper also said that despite the flop campaign, Gambhir and Suryakumar have a lot of faith in Abhishek.
Samson backed Abhishek to play a big innings in the final
“The atmosphere in our dressing room is very good. Our leaders have a lot of confidence in Abhishek and we are all supporting him. Every player goes through ups and downs. Just a few good shots can come in between and everything can change in this format,” Sanju Samson told reporters in Mumbai.
We still believe in him, and who knows—maybe his days will be his last. We think the final is going to be his day – he will definitely do very well on the last day. Jiji, bhai and Surya have a lot of trust and confidence in Abhishek.”
Also Read: Shoaib Akhtar reveals how Sanju Samson finally got his big World Cup chance
Virender Sehwag seeks support for Varun Chakraborty like Abhishek Sharma
Meanwhile, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has raised a big question on the ongoing discussion regarding Varun Chakraborty and Abhishek Sharma. He pointed out that if the team management can continue to support the young opening batsman despite poor scores, the same support should be given to the struggling spinner.
Varun made a great start to the tournament by taking nine wickets in the first four matches, but his form deteriorated later. In the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium, he conceded 64 runs in four overs, taking his total from the last four matches to 186 runs. Sehwag believes that players going through bad times should get equal patience and support from the team.
Virender Sehwag said on Cricbuzz, “Even Abhishek Sharma is not performing well. So, if you are supporting him, what’s the problem in supporting a bowler? It is people’s job to criticize. If you are playing with a batsman who has scored only one half-century in his last 5-6 innings and if you say to a bowler that you have given away runs in the last three matches, then we are looking for a different bowler, So what is the guarantee that the replacement bowler will perform well?”
