Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has suggested that India consider dropping Abhishek Sharma from the playing XI for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand national cricket team. The summit clash is scheduled to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Kaif urged head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav to give the young opener a break after his disappointing run in the tournament. Abhishek has struggled for form in the competition, crossing the 50-run mark only once so far.
Struggles against spin and illness
The left-handed batter has particularly struggled against spin bowling during the tournament, losing his wicket to spinners on four occasions. Opposition teams have frequently used spinners during the powerplay to exploit this weakness, a tactic that has worked effectively.
Abhishek has also been unable to adjust his approach, often trying to attack from the start rather than rotating the strike. This strategy has repeatedly backfired.
Adding to his challenges, Abhishek fell ill just before the start of the tournament due to a stomach infection and had to be hospitalised. The illness reportedly led to weight loss, affecting his bat swing and confidence. His struggles have also been visible in the field, where he dropped two catches during India’s Super 8 match against the West Indies national cricket team.
Kaif suggests Rinku Singh as replacement
Considering these factors, Kaif suggested that Rinku Singh could be brought into the team for the final.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif said that making changes in the shortest format of the game is not unusual. He cited the example of the West Indies team giving Roston Chase a chance as an opener when Brandon King was out of form.
Kaif pointed out that India have several proven performers available on the bench. According to him, Rinku has consistently scored runs across formats, including domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League, making him a strong candidate to replace Abhishek in the final.
Kaif highlights difference between Samson and Abhishek
Abhishek’s poor form at the top of the order also prompted the team management to bring back Sanju Samson into the lineup. Samson has responded impressively, winning consecutive Player of the Match awards for his performances against the West Indies and England national cricket team.
Kaif noted that the key difference between Samson and Abhishek lies in their experience in major tournaments. While Abhishek is still relatively new to ICC events, Samson has been playing international cricket for over a decade and has scored more than 8,000 runs in T20 cricket.
According to Kaif, Samson is already an established player, while Abhishek is still developing his game and gaining experience at the highest level.
