India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, came out in support of young opener Abhishek Sharma following the T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan, where Sharma was dismissed for a duck. The remarks followed comments from Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson, who highlighted that their strategy specifically targeted India’s left-handed openers. Kotak, however, downplayed any narrative suggesting that Sharma’s dismissals were a result of pre-planned opposition tactics.
“First of all, a lot of credit to Abhishek if teams are openly saying they have specific plans for him and are happy when they get him out; he must be doing very well for them to be so concerned,” Kotak said during the press conference. “In the last game, he got out with the ball hitting the top of the bat, that’s fine. In this sport, you can’t plan every shot or dismissal.”
Sharma’s T20 campaign has been a mix of highs and hurdles. After missing the Namibia fixture due to a stomach infection, he returned for the high-pressure encounter against Pakistan, only to face another scoreless outing. Despite the setbacks, Kotak stressed the importance of collective performance over individual scrutiny, pointing out that even quickfire 30-run cameos in T20 cricket can prove pivotal for team success.
“Before he fell ill, Abhishek had already contributed important runs,” Kotak added. “We focus on all our batters, not just one player. T20 is high-risk; dismissals happen. What matters is maintaining form, having a clear plan, and a strong mindset.”
The young opener, seen as one of India’s X-factors, is expected to regain rhythm in the upcoming fixtures. With the World Cup in full swing and high-stakes matches ahead, India’s coaching staff remains confident that Sharma’s talent and resilience will shine through, even as opposition teams attempt to devise specific strategies against him. Fans and cricket analysts alike will be watching closely to see how the promising youngster responds under pressure.
