Good news for India as report claims star player's return for India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026

Ahead of India’s third encounter of the T20 World Cup 2026 against Pakistan, scheduled on February 15, at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo, the concern for the management has been around the fitness of their opening batter, Abhishek Sharma, who missed the previous contest of the blue brigade at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi against Namibia.

Abhishek Sharma has been one of the vital members of the T20I side since his debut in the shortest format post the T20 World Cup 2024. The southpaw has clubbed 1297 runs in 38 innings at an average of 36.02 and a strike rate of 194.45 with the help of two centuries and eight half-centuries at the best score of 135 runs.

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However, the report has claimed that Abhishek is likely to return for the next clash against Pakistan. His presence will be massive for the home side of the World Cup as he can look to smash the left-arm Pakistan pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, inside the powerplay, and he can be vital even against the mystery spinner, Usman Tariq.

Abhishek Sharma likely to return for IND vs PAK T20 WC 2026

During the Guwahati T20I clash against New Zealand, Abhishek smashed a thrilling knock of 68 runs. The left-handed opener drilled seven boundaries and five sixes at a strike rate of 340 at that position in completing the chase by eight wickets in just 10 overs for 155 runs.

The mystery spinner of the Indian side, Varun Chakravarthy, has revealed that Abhishek should be ready and come back into the playing eleven for the Pakistan clash. Even if he doesn’t, then the blue brigade will continue to go with Sanju Samson, who smashed 22 runs in just eight balls against Namibia in Delhi.

“I think he will play the next match; I don’t know for sure. As far as I have spoken to him, he looks good and did some practice today as well. He said that he’s on the way.” Chakravarthy expressed in the post-match interview in Delhi.