Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif has urged the team management to consider a bold change ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 final, suggesting that out-of-form opener Abhishek Sharma should be rested for the title clash against the New Zealand national cricket team. India will take on the Kiwis in the summit clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.Kaif believes that the Indian think tank, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, should not hesitate to make a change for such a crucial match. Abhishek endured a tough campaign in the tenth edition of the tournament, breaking the 50-run mark only once and repeatedly struggling against the spin bowling.
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Opposition teams have targeted this weakness by introducing spinners during the powerplay. On four occasions in the tournament, Abhishek fell to spin, often while trying to attack from the start. The aggressive approach that usually defines his batting did not pay off this time and he struggled to adapt by rotating his shot or taking time to settle in the crease.In addition, the situation was complicated by a health problem before the start of the tournament. Abhishek suffered a stomach infection and had to be hospitalized shortly before the start of the competition. The illness resulted in noticeable weight loss, and the lack of physical strength seemed to affect his bat swing and overall confidence. His struggles also extended to the field as the left-hander dropped two catches during India’s Super 8s match against the West Indies cricket team.With these factors in mind, Kaif believes the team could benefit from bringing Rinku Singh into the final.“India can give Abhishek Sharma a break. He has played many matches now. There is no harm in making changes. You can make changes in the shortest way. Roston Chase started against India because Brandon King was out of form. They backed him for five or six games but gave him a break for the big game. I believe like you brought in Sanja,” Kaif said, doing a great job on his channel so this change.“India have proven players. Rinku Singh’s scores are running everywhere, be it Tests, Ranji Trophy or IPL. Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj are also taking wickets everywhere. When you look in the dugout to see who can replace Abhishek Sharma, you see Rinku Singh sitting there. So bring him in,” added the guy who is struggling outside despite doing well.Abhishek’s lack of runs at the top also prompted the team management to reintroduce Sanju Samson to the playing eleven. The batsman responded impressively at the wicket, producing match-winning knocks against the West Indies and the England cricket team, winning the Player of the Match award in both games.Kaif also pointed out that Samson’s experience in high-pressure tournaments sets him apart from Abhishek, who is still relatively new to global events.“The biggest difference between Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson is that Abhishek Sharma is still quite new in ICC events. He has a fantastic record if we keep ICC events aside. It makes a big difference to play in ICC events like the World Cup,” Kaif said.“Sanju has scored more than 8000 runs in T20S. Be it runs or six-hit ability, his name is in the top 10 in IPL. He is already an established player. Abhishek Sharma is still young and needs to work on his game. He is not a finished product. Don’t compare him with Sanju,” concluded Sanju already a finished product. He debuted 11 years ago.
