Former Indian spinner Piyush Chawla has backed young opener Abhishek Sharma, who has faced challenges in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, labeling him as a player known for his high-risk, high-reward style. Abhishek has participated in two matches in the tournament but is yet to score a run, having been dismissed for a duck in both innings. Despite this, Chawla believes that the team should not be concerned about the opener’s form as they aim to defend their title.
Chawla expressed confidence in Abhishek’s abilities, stating, “There’s nothing to worry about, to be very honest, because in the last 18 months or so, we have seen what Abhishek is capable of. He’s the kind of batter who plays with a high-risk, high-reward approach, and you have to be a little patient with these kinds of players.” He highlighted the narrow margin of error against Abhishek as a bowler and emphasized the need for patience when facing such players.
India has secured a spot in the Super 8s and is set to face the Netherlands in their final group stage match. Chawla suggested a change in India’s playing XI for the upcoming match, indicating that Arshdeep might replace Kuldeep Yadav due to the nature of the pitch. He praised Kuldeep as a quality bowler but noted the importance of adapting the team based on the match conditions.
The veteran spinner also discussed the strategic shift in Suryakumar Yadav’s approach, which led to an improvement in his performance after a lean phase. Chawla highlighted Suryakumar’s ability to adjust his strike rate quickly during his innings, emphasizing the significance of taking time to settle in and build an innings effectively.
