Last Updated:
World No. 1 T20I batter Abhishek Sharma missed India’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group A match against Namibia in Delhi on Thursday because of illness.
Abhishek Sharma to play T20 World Cup 2026 match against Pakistan? (Picture Credit: X/@BCCI, PTI)
World No. 1 T20I bowler Varun Chakaravarthy has shared a positive update about world No. 1 T20I batter Abhishek Sharma‘s recovery after India crushed Namibia by 93 runs of their second Group A match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. While talking to reporters within the mixed zone after India registered their biggest win within the T20 World Cup by run margin in Delhi on Thursday (February 12), Varun stated that Abhishek looks good and he might play the subsequent match for India.
World No. 1 T20I team India is scheduled to face arch-rivals Pakistan of their third Group A match of T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday, February 15. The high-voltage match between the 2 teams will likely be played at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Abhishek, who made his T20 World Cup debut for India on February 7 in Mumbai against the USA, missed the match against Namibia in Delhi on February 12 because of illness.
“I believe he’ll play the subsequent match; I don’t know. But so far as I actually have spoken to him, he looks good, and he did some practice today also. He told that he’s on the best way,” Varun said throughout the mixed zone media interactions.
Varun’s post-match comments have raised the potential for Abhishek’s inclusion in India’s playing XI for the large match against the Pakistani team.
But Varun’s comments were in sharp contrast to Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s. In the course of the toss, Surya, when asked about changes in India’s playing XI for the match against Namibia, stated that Abhishek remains to be not tremendous and might miss a game or two.
“Abhishek remains to be not tremendous; he’ll miss a game or two. Sanju is available in, the same batter, explosive,” Surya had said throughout the toss.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also took to X to share an update on Abhishek after he missed the match against Namibia.
Based on the tweet posted by the BCCI, Abhishek remains to be recovering from illness, and the BCCI’s medical team is closely monitoring his progress.
“Update: Abhishek Sharma remains to be recovering from his illness and was unavailable for selection. The BCCI medical team is closely monitoring his progress,” the BCCI tweeted.
In Abhishek’s absence, Sanju Samson opened the innings for India on Thursday and scored 22 runs from just 8 balls. He slammed three sixes and one in a row but did not convert an excellent start into an enormous rating.
February 12, 2026, 23:39 IST
Read More