Veteran Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who had labelled India opener Abhishek Sharma a “slogger” ahead of last Sunday’s marquee T20 World Cup 2026 clash in Colombo, issued a warning to the batter after he registered three consecutive ducks in his first three matches of the tournament.
India's Abhishek Sharma walks back to pavilion after losing his wicket to Netherlands' Aryan Dutt during their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 match (Sportz Asia)
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
On Wednesday, in India’s final Group A game against the Netherlands, Abhishek was dismissed off the third ball of the opening over by Aryan Dutt. Attempting a pull shot, he was beaten for pace as the ball skidded on to hit the stumps, marking his third duck in as many games, across just eight deliveries faced.
With the dismissal, Abhishek equalled the unwanted record for the most ducks by an Indian in T20 World Cups, alongside Ashish Nehra. Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi and Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan lead the overall list with five ducks each.
Speaking on the Pakistani show Game on hai, Amir compared Abhishek’s struggles to those faced by Pakistan opener Saim Ayub early in his career during the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He noted that inexperienced batters are often tested by quality bowlers who quickly identify technical weaknesses.
{{/usCountry}}
{{#usCountry}}
Speaking on the Pakistani show Game on hai, Amir compared Abhishek’s struggles to those faced by Pakistan opener Saim Ayub early in his career during the Pakistan Super League (PSL). He noted that inexperienced batters are often tested by quality bowlers who quickly identify technical weaknesses.
{{/usCountry}}
“Saim had the same issue when he came to play the PSL a few years back. He was new and was hitting no-look shots. Nobody knew his weakness because most of his shots were on the leg side. Now, if you bowl at the third or fourth stump line, he struggles to decide. Even in his last two matches, he was dismissed playing on the off side. Unless he improves his off-side game, he cannot progress. Strong bowlers will always test your weakness and push you out of your comfort zone,” Amir said.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
“Same for Abhishek. He wants every ball in the slot so he can hit. But at the bigger stages, or in ODIs, har ball lapete mein nahi le sakte (you cannot slog every ball in pressure cricket). Salman Agha and Aryan Dutt got him out in similar fashion. International cricket will expose you.”
India will hope Abhishek can recover from this lean run and rediscover form ahead of the Super 8 stage of the World Cup.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
Get live cricket scores, match updates, schedules, results and ICC rankings. Follow the latest news, statistics and performances of top teams and players on Hindustan Times.
Get live cricket scores, match updates, schedules, results and ICC rankings. Follow the latest news, statistics and performances of top teams and players on Hindustan Times.
Home/Cricket/Amir warns Abhishek after three ducks, says international cricket exposes flaws: ‘Har ball lapete mein nahi le sakte’
{{^htLoading}}
Advertisement
{{/htLoading}}
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
{{#usCountry}}{{/usCountry}}
Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe
