After all the boycott theatrics, political noise and endless off-field chatter, cricket’s biggest match has finally arrived as planned. India vs Pakistan will light up Colombo on February 15, but for all the hype surrounding the rivalry, one question has been hovering above everything else.
Will Abhishek Sharma play?
India may be favorites on paper, but their biggest batting asset has been at the center of uncertainty in the build-up. And while Abhishek is fit enough to field, the bigger debate is whether India should really risk him in a group stage clash so early in the tournament.
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The good news for Indian fans is that Abhishek rejoined the team and was spotted training with the team before marquee night.
On Saturday, he batted in two separate stints, longer than anyone else, before a drizzle cut short practice. He repeatedly faced the round-arm trajectory, a clear sign that India are preparing him for Pakistan’s bowling threats. IND vs PAK: Abhishek went through an intense session of the net on Saturday. (PTI Photo)
But the question remains. Is Abhishek fully prepared or is it a gamble disguised as confidence?
WHAT HAPPENED TO ABHISHEK SHARMA?
Abhishek’s absence began with what was reported to be a stomach ulcer. The opener was hospitalized in Delhi for treatment and was discharged on February 11, according to teammate Tilak Varma, who spoke to the press ahead of India’s match against Namibia.
However, Abhishek missed India’s training sessions at the Arun Jaitley Stadium and ended up sitting out the Namibia match where Sanju Samson came on as his replacement.
The 23-year-old is believed to have lost almost two kilos during his brief illness but is now recovering well in time for the high-stakes game.
Even so, the deposit was not gentle. Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir took a dig at the young opener, calling him a “fat man” and questioning his technique.
Amir claimed that Abhishek is not technically proficient dough and could be released with the right plans. The comments sparked backlash, but Amir stood his ground.
It’s the kind of special spice that this rivalry never finds.
And yet, Abhishek’s numbers suggest that he is much more than a reckless hitter. In 39 T20Is so far, he has amassed 1297 runs at a strike rate of 200, including two hundreds and eight fifties.
However, the sample size is small against Pakistan. Abhishek played three T20Is, all during last year’s Asia Cup, scoring 110 runs at a strike rate of 189.65.
It’s not bad, but maybe not quite the full-on performance it’s capable of.
WILL ABHISHEK SHARMA PLAY IND VS PAK?
Abhishek is expected to return for Sunday’s match and Pakistan themselves seem to want him there.
Captain Salman Ali Agha has made it clear that Pakistan want to face India’s strongest XI.
“I really hope – we all know he’s a good player – and I really hope he plays tomorrow because we want to play against the best team they have. I really hope he recovers well and can play tomorrow,” Agha said.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav in his own style, dropped a strong hint that Abhishek is very much in the plans.
When reporters relayed Aghya’s comments, Suryakumar responded with a smile.
“If Pakistan wants Abhishek Sharma to play, he will play,” he said.
Still, not everyone believes India should rush the opener back.
Former Australian dough expert and JioStar Aaron Finch urged caution and suggested that India have enough depth to cope without taking unnecessary risks so soon.
“However big the game is, I think India will have their eyes on the Super 8s, the semis and the final. So if Abhishek is still under the weather and you don’t want to take any chances, that’s absolutely fine because you understand that you can’t win the tournament at this early stage, but you can certainly lose it,” Finch said.
On the other side of the debate, the former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh rocked in support of Abhishekended Amir’s criticism and backed the opener to give Pakistan a scare.
“If Abhishek stays at the crease, he will remind everyone who he is. He was already in your dreams for the last 4-5 months. If he grows up tomorrow, then for the next six months he will be in your dreams again,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel. T20 World Cup: On his day, Abhishek can give bowlers nightmares. (PTI Photo)
So, fit or not, should India really risk him?
It’s a balancing act. Abhishek Sharma is explosive, unpredictable and a match changer. But India also knows that tournaments are not won in one group game, even one as massive as India vs Pakistan.
Sunday in Colombo will show whether India err on the side of caution or back their biggest batting weapon to answer the ‘off the charts’ question on cricket’s biggest stage.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 15, 2026