Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh offered fans an early glimpse of Abhishek Sharma through a recent social media post, even as uncertainty remains over his availability to open India’s T20 World Cup thriller against Pakistan on February 15. A light-hearted video surfaced shortly after. India’s dominant win over Namibia, reviving talks about Abhishek’s timeline.
Filmed in what appeared to be an Indian dressing room during the post-match meal, the clip showed Abhishek looking relaxed and comfortable. While Arshdeep jokingly pointed out that Abhishek was still sticking to a light diet of dal and rice, the visuals suggested that the opener is steadily improving, though match fitness remains a separate issue.
Watch the video here:
Why is Abhishek Sharma excluded?
Abhishek Sharma was hospitalized in Delhi earlier this week after suffering stomach trouble which forced him to miss India’s group stage match against Namibia. The illness came as an early setback, especially given the importance of the batsman at the top of the order in India’s aggressive T20 setup.
Although Abhishek has since been discharged from the hospital, the Indian team management has taken a cautious approach. I’m talking about the draw against Namibia, captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that the opener would not be available for “a game or two”, highlighting that the decision was driven by recovery and not concerns about form or fitness.
Will Abhishek Sharma play IND vs PAK?
With the India-Pakistan clash looming, Abhishek’s availability remains one of the biggest sticking points in India’s World Cup campaign. A fully fit Abhishek would greatly strengthen India’s top order and give them a chance to seal Super 8 qualification in emphatic fashion against their arch-rivals.
However, India is unlikely to rush him back. Abhishek is central to the team’s plans for the later stages of the tournament and the management may prefer to prioritize long-term impact over short-term risk. If Abhishek is not cleared in time, Sanju Samson, who opened the attack against Namibia, could get an extended run and leave the door open as India wait for their explosive opener to return in full force.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 13, 2026