Former South African captain AB de Villiers recently offered advice to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opener Abhishek Sharma ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The legendary batter urged Abhishek to analyse his batting technique, drawing a direct comparison to how Virat Kohli handles pressure.
Sharma currently holds the No. 1 ranking in T20Is but endured an inconsistent campaign during the recent T20 World Cup 2026. Sunrisers Hyderabad will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 28. The Hyderabad-based franchise will be hoping he makes an impact in the marquee tournament.
Speaking on Star Sports, AB de Villiers said that Abhishek Sharma should process external expectations after a string of low scores. The former RCB star added that Virat Kohli overcame similar challenging phases by constantly analysing his game throughout his career.
"When you are feeling the pressure externally, you just have to keep working on your own game. That's one of the things I saw in Virat in all those years. He would constantly analyze his own game, and that's where Abhishek is at now," AB de Villiers said on Star Sports.
"Don't suffocate because of the pressure. Instead, embrace it and love it. Go back to the nets and be that child again, who loves the game and has passion for it, to figure out new things about yourself. If he has that kind of mindset, he is going to be just fine," he added.
That’s the Shift Abhishek Sharma Has to Make - Anil Kumble’s Advice
Former Team India captain Anil Kumble also spoke about the aggressive batting style of Abhishek Sharma. The legendary leg-spinner emphasized that the opening batter should control his natural attacking instincts and improve his approach against off-spin bowlers.
"One thing he would have possibly adjusted to now is off-spin. To become a great player or being consistent, what is critical is not what you can do but what you should not do, and how you can control that in your mind will be the key. That's the shift Abhishek Sharma has to do," Anil Kumble said.
"The style with which he goes, relying on the intimidation factor, it's very difficult to have consistent batting performances. He has enjoyed playing for SRH because it's the kind of lineup where you have the freedom to bat freely," he added.
Sharma’s Inconsistent T20 World Cup 2026 Campaign
During the T20 World Cup 2026, Abhishek Sharma scored just 141 runs in eight innings at an average of 17.63. He registered ducks against the United States, Pakistan, and the Netherlands before scoring 55 runs against Zimbabwe.
However, Abhishek delivered when it mattered most, scoring 52 runs off 21 balls against New Zealand in the final. He and Sanju Samson added a massive 98-run opening stand, helping India secure a dominant 96-run title win.
In IPL 2025, the left-handed batter smashed 439 runs in 13 innings at an average of 33.77 and a strike rate of 193.39, including one century and two half-centuries. However, the Hyderabad-based franchise failed to qualify for the playoffs, finishing sixth in the ten-team points table.
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