Former Indian fast bowler Varun Aaron believes India’s over-reliance on Abhishek Sharma has been exposed in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. After bagging three consecutive ducks in the group stages, Sharma perished after scoring 15 runs off 12 balls against South Africa in the Super 8 stage of the World Cup.

Aaron said Sharma’s early dismissal is putting the middle order in unknown territory and thus under pressure in the ongoing T20I showpiece. Ahead of the World Cup, Sharma was India’s as well the world’s best T20I batter, but he hasn’t been able to carry his good form in the tournament.

Varun Aaron said on ESPN Cricinfo, “The reliance on Abhishek Sharma has definitely been exposed. He could buy extra time [for the middle order] with the strike rate he was going at. But now the middle order, after almost two years, are finding themselves in an alien situation where they have to come in and suddenly accelerate and generate a few big overs out of nowhere.”

Aaron noted that the opposition bowlers are changing their pace with guile while bowling to Abhishek Sharma.

“You could literally see Abhishek frustrated that the ball is not coming on to the bat. He wants the ball to come onto his bat. Teams are not giving him that one pace. They are taking pace off and then going pace on, which is just messing with his bat swing.”

Abhishek has managed only 15 runs in four innings of the World Cup and thus he hasn’t been at his best. Before the marquee event, Sharma scored 182 runs in five matches against New Zealand at a blistering strike rate of almost 250.

India will next take on Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Thursday.