Abhishek Sharma is all set to return to India’s playing XI for their T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan after missing the previous match due to illness. India captain Suryakumar Yadav, in the pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s match on February 15, strongly pointed out the inclusion of the youngster.
The aggressive left-hander sat out India’s last match against the national cricket team of Namibia after being hospitalized with a stomach infection. Abhishek turned up for India’s tournament opener against the USA in Mumbai despite battling a high fever, but his condition later deteriorated and required treatment in Delhi. He was released just a day before the Namibia match.
The 23-year-old is believed to have lost almost two kilos during his brief illness but is now recovering well ahead of the high-stakes game.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha had earlier expressed his desire to face Abhishek and said that Pakistan wanted 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.
When reporters relayed these comments, Suryakumar responded with a cheeky remark.
“If Pakistan wants Abhishek Sharma to play, he will play,” he said with a smile.
WHO WILL REPLACE ABHISHEK SHARMA?
Abhishek Sharma’s call-up will be taken on the day of the match, the Indian team said in the lead-up to the match against Pakistan. The left-hander, who has the ability to bowl at a very high pace, would probably replace Sanju Samson in the batting line-up.
If Abhishek plays in Colombo, it would be a huge asset for India, given the incredible ability of the batting to spin. Abhishek initially made a name for himself as a spin basher in the Indian Premier League, but over time he also worked on his pace. Since his debut in international cricket, Abhishek has seen a meteoric rise and is currently the highest rated batsman in the format.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
February 14, 2026