Gautam Gambhir wastes no time, launches animated coaching session with Abhishek Sharma in team bus after Chennai landing

Abhishek Sharma scored just 15 runs in 20 balls across four innings in the 2026 T20 World Cup

Updated on: Feb 23, 2026, 23:04:31 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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India head coach Gautam Gambhir wasted no time engaging in an animated discussion with opener Abhishek Sharma inside the team bus after India landed in Chennai on Monday for their second Super 8 fixture of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Indian team head coach Gautam Gambhir in conversation with Abhishek Sharma during a practice session (HT_PRINT)

India suffered a 76-run defeat to South Africa in their Super 8 opener in Ahmedabad on Sunday, their heaviest loss in World Cup history. It was India's first loss in 18 matches across ICC white-ball tournaments, having suffered their last defeat also in Ahmedabad - 2023 ODI World Cup final against Australia.

Abhishek, who lit up the T20 format last year with his explosive strokeplay, has struggled to find rhythm in the tournament. He began his campaign with three consecutive ducks and, although he got off the mark against South Africa, he never looked settled. The Proteas kept him in check before Marco Jansen dismissed him with a knuckleball for 15 off 12 balls.

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Despite continued backing from the team management, Abhishek has failed to capitalise on his opportunities, even as talk of Sanju Samson entering the XI grows louder.

However, Gambhir appeared to reaffirm his faith in the left-hander. A clip that went viral on social media showed the India coach animatedly explaining something to Abhishek inside the team bus after the squad arrived in Chennai ahead of their February 6 clash against Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Judging by his hand gestures, Gambhir seemed to be discussing technical tweaks and tactical adjustments for the must-win encounter.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, reached the Super 8 stage for the first time in their T20 World Cup history after an unbeaten group-stage campaign that included wins over Australia and Sri Lanka.

India too progressed through the group stage unbeaten before being comprehensively outplayed by South Africa in Ahmedabad.

The Men in Blue will also face West Indies in their final Group 1 Super 8 fixture on March 1 in Kolkata.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
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.Read More

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