T20 World Cup: Suryakumar stands firm behind Abhishek Sharma, rejects calls for Samson inclusion

India captain Suryakumar Yadav has strongly defended explosive opener Abhishek Sharma amid mounting criticism over his lean run in the T20 World Cup, making it clear that the team management continues to back the left-hander despite his early struggles.

Abhishek has had a disappointing start to the tournament, recording three consecutive ducks and facing just eight deliveries across those matches. He also missed a group-stage game against Namibia due to a stomach infection. His lack of runs at the top has raised concerns, especially with India failing to reproduce the explosive powerplay performances seen during recent bilateral series.

However, speaking ahead of India’s Super 8 encounter against South Africa in Ahmedabad, Suryakumar brushed aside the doubts surrounding the young opener’s form. The skipper emphasized that the team remains confident in Abhishek’s ability and is not considering a change in the playing XI.

In a pointed response to critics, Suryakumar said those worrying about Abhishek’s form should instead worry about the opposition bowlers he will face. He reminded everyone of the impact the batter made in T20Is last year and reiterated that cricket is a team game where players support one another during tough phases.

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The captain acknowledged that Abhishek has been working on certain aspects of his game but stressed that the team’s priority is for him to stick to his natural style of play. “If it comes off, great. If not, the rest of us are there to step up,” he indicated, adding that Abhishek had carried the team at times in the past and now it is the team’s turn to stand by him.

With Abhishek’s early dismissals exposing India’s top order, speculation had grown over whether Sanju Samson could be drafted in to provide a right-handed option, particularly against off-spin - an area where India have looked vulnerable. Suryakumar, however, ruled out any immediate changes.

He noted that scoring 40-50 runs in the powerplay remains acceptable in tournament conditions, even if expectations have risen after dominant displays in bilateral series. The captain also pointed out that pitches in the ongoing competition have behaved differently, with opposition teams introducing off-spinners early to disrupt India’s rhythm.