India vs Zimbabwe in T20 WC 2026: Former great urges management to give Abhishek Sharma a break

Former India explosive opener Virender Sehwag has suggested that the team management should consider resting Abhishek Sharma for India’s crucial Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup 2026. The must-win encounter is scheduled to be played at M A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday.

Abhishek has endured a difficult campaign so far. Battling illness and poor form, the young batter registered three consecutive ducks during the group stage. He showed slight improvement in the Super 8 opener against South Africa national cricket team, scoring 15 off 12 balls, but India suffered a heavy 76-run defeat in that match.

Despite his struggles, the Indian team management has continued to back Abhishek, hoping he can rediscover form and help resolve the team’s ongoing top-order concerns. However, Sehwag has questioned whether persisting with him in a high-pressure fixture is the right call.

Sehwag stated that he would prefer giving Abhishek a break and bringing in Sanju Samson instead. According to him, with India facing elimination if they lose, the team must field its strongest possible XI based purely on current form rather than potential.

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India’s net run rate, currently at -3.800 following the loss to South Africa, has become another area of concern. If the West Indies cricket team defeat South Africa in their Super 8 fixture, the pressure on captain Suryakumar Yadav and his squad could intensify significantly.

While Sehwag acknowledged that there could be selection changes, he defended India’s tactical approach during the tournament. He emphasized that execution, rather than strategy, has been the primary issue. He also noted that both Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma have struggled for consistency, which the team management must take into account.

The underperformance of the top-order batters has placed added pressure on the middle order, although batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has downplayed concerns ahead of the Zimbabwe clash.

As India gear up for this decisive encounter, team selection and batting form remain key talking points. With their tournament hopes hanging in the balance, the management faces critical decisions in the lead-up to the match.