Abhishek Sharma may not have opened his account in this T20 World Cup, but he made sure his presence was felt in Ahmedabad. On the eve of India’s Super 8 opener against South Africa, it was the young left-hander who energized the camp with a rousing Punjabi war cry during practice at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
As the squad huddled together in a tight huddle under the lights on Fridaya video shared by the BCCI captured Abhishek entering the middle. Before ending with “Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akaal”, he delivered a short, charged speech that immediately drew roars from his teammates and support staff.
Watch the video here:
The context made the moment more powerful. India and South Africa, the finalists in 2024, will meet again on February 22, this time in Ahmedabad. The Proteas, led by Aiden Markram, come with strong momentum and quiet motivation. For India, who are still unbeaten, they only get tougher from here.
For Abhishek personally, the war cry contrasted sharply with his numbers in the ongoing T20 World Cup. The opener registered ducks against USA, Pakistan and Netherlands and missed the clash against Namibia due to illness. Picked for his fearless approach at the top, he is yet to find a rhythm with the bat.
However, the mood around him on the networks suggested anything but panic. During the session, he spent extended time with head coach Gautam Gambhir and worked on technical details. Gambhir was seen explaining the finer points while Abhishek listened intently before going through a high catch drill and then returning to batting.
INDIA BACK ABHISHEK DURING THE RUN
Despite the slim patch, team management showed no signs of doubt. Bowling coach Morne Morkel dismissed suggestions of internal discussions about Abhishek’s place in the playing XI.
“Absolutely no debate. He is a world-class player. Fortunately, so far in the tournament, some guys have stood up for Abhishek (others are scoring goals),” Morkel said.
However, he emphasized the importance of the phase India is entering.
“But now we are going through a very important phase of the World Cup and we expect him to do well… And I’m pretty sure, not only for the team but also for all the spectators who watch the game. Because it’s fun and we like to see it,” he added.
India remain unbeaten but their reputation has little in the Super 8. A confident South African side will be executed.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 21, 2026