Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has shed light on Abhishek Sharma’s form in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. While India registered a 17-run win against the Dutch, Abhishek Sharma continued his worrisome form.

Sharma was dismissed for his third consecutive duck in the tournament as he was bowled by the Netherlands off-spinner Aryan Dutt. Earlier, the left-hander was dismissed for a golden duck against the USA and also dismissed without troubling the scorers against Pakistan.

Ashwin is hopeful that Sharma will get runs in the Super 8 stage of the competition, which will do him a world of good.

“It is not a technical glitch. Abhishek used to play like this always. But this can play on your head. But I really hope he gets some runs and he has to come good. He has got three nots on the trot but that doesn’t change how lethal a batter he is in T20 cricket,” Ashwin said on ‘Ash ki Baat’.

Analysing Sharma’s dismissal, Ashwin highlighted that opposition teams are getting off-spinners to bowl tight lines at the left-hander, which has now become a trend.

“Abhishek clears his front foot and tries to swing. So an off-spinner bowling has become a trend now. When we played RR vs SRH as well, I bowled 3 consecutive overs and did not go for many. He had to get out but narrowly escaped. It is becoming a trend. They are trying to bowl tight lines. Because it is closer, it is not in his range. There is space to open his hands, but he has to come around it, but by the time he does, the ball has already gone through,” he explained.

The former off-spinner said Abhishek will not be dropped despite bagging three ducks.

“This is Abhishek’s game. It happens. He was not well either. He has scored runs, it’s not like that. Not like you will remove him from the team now. When he is on song, he wins games for India within the powerplay,” he said.

India will take on South Africa in their opening game of the Super 8 stage at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday.