Abhishek Sharma, who arrived at the T20 World Cup with the weight of expectation as the ICC’s top-ranked T20I batsman, is currently enduring a catastrophic run of form. Despite his global standing, Sharma’s tournament statistics make for grim reading: three matches played, three innings contested, and three consecutive ducks. This unprecedented “hat-trick” of zeroes has ignited a fierce debate regarding his technical suitability for the international stage.
Former Pakistani pace spearhead Mohammad Amir has been particularly vocal in his critique, suggesting that Sharma’s woes stem from a fundamental reliance on “slogging” rather than sound cricketing technique.
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A Technical “Slogger” Under Scrutiny
Amir’s scepticism regarding Sharma’s prowess predates the current crisis. Prior to the high-stakes clash against Pakistan, Amir dismissed the top-ranked batsman as a limited-range hitter. Speaking on the popular talk show ‘Har Na-Mana Hai’, Amir elaborated on why he remains unconvinced by the Indian opener’s credentials.
“To be perfectly honest, based on what I have observed, he appears to be little more than a slogger,” Amir remarked. “His technique is notably stationary; he stands in one spot and waits for the ball to land in his preferred ‘slot’. I will only acknowledge him as a genuine batsman when I see him successfully negotiate movement and swing with conviction.”
Amir argued that international bowlers are far too sophisticated to feed a batsman’s strengths. Instead, they purposefully drag an opener out of their comfort zone. “An opening batsman must possess the versatility to play all around the ground,” Amir added, noting that Sharma’s inability to adapt was brutally exposed in recent matches against the Netherlands and Pakistan.
Comparisons with Saim Ayub
Amir drew a direct parallel between Sharma and Pakistan’s young opener, Saim Ayub. He recalled that when Ayub first emerged in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), he was celebrated for his innovative “no-look” shots. However, once bowlers identified his heavy reliance on the leg side, his effectiveness waned.
“Abhishek is in the same predicament,” Amir explained. “He wants every delivery in the slot so he can swing through the line. But on the grand stage, or in the pressure cooker of One Day Internationals, you cannot simply muscle every ball. Like Saim, who is still struggling with deliveries on the fourth or fifth stump line, Abhishek seems unable to decide how to react when the ball isn’t where he wants it.”
Abhishek Sharma’s T20 World Cup Performance To Date
| Opposition | Innings | Balls Faced | Runs Scored | Dismissal Type |
| Match 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | Caught |
| Pakistan | 1 | 3 | 0 | Caught Behind |
| Netherlands | 1 | 1 | 0 | Bowled |
The Tactical Blind Spot
The critique focused heavily on Sharma’s lack of a “360-degree” game. Amir pointed out that bowlers like Salman Agha have successfully targeted Sharma by cramming him for room and bowling directly at his body, a tactic that the Netherlands also employed to great effect.
As the tournament progresses, the pressure on the world’s number one batsman continues to mount. Without a significant technical adjustment or a shift in temperament, Amir warns that surviving the rigours of international cricket will become an insurmountable challenge for the young opener.