“Don’t force big shots”: Gavaskar’s tip for Abhishek Sharma, India’s top T20 batter

Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has weighed in on Abhishek Sharma’s early struggles in the ongoing T20 World Cup , urging the 25-year-old opener to play smart at the start of his innings rather than attempting big shots across the line.

Entering the tournament as the top-ranked T20I batter , Abhishek has endured a tough run, scoring three consecutive ducks against the USA, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. Gavaskar said the pressure of expectations seems to be affecting him. “Abhishek Sharma is a lovely guy, but the weight of being the big six-hitter and top batter is showing. With his shot range, he needs to spend time in the middle. He cannot try to hit a boundary or six on the first ball. If the big shots come naturally, fine, but he shouldn’t force them,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.

The former India captain emphasized that Abhishek should focus on getting off the mark first. “Take a single, even if it means four dot balls. Spend an over or two settling in, then play your natural game. Once he scores that first run, everything will fall into place,” he said.

Gavaskar also praised Shivam Dube for his attacking 66 off 31 balls in India’s 17-run win over the Netherlands, saying the left-handed all-rounder only needs to perfect one additional shot to become “a really scary batter.” Dube’s wide range of strokes allows him to clear most fields, and developing an inside-out shot over extra cover could make him virtually unstoppable.

Highlighting India’s bowling strength, Gavaskar lauded spinner Varun Chakravarthy for his four-over haul of 3 for 14. “Varun will be a key bowler. While Jasprit Bumrah will open and Hardik Pandya may chip in, India’s success will depend heavily on Varun’s four overs. It will be interesting to see how opposition teams try to counter him in the Super 8 stage,” he added.

Looking ahead to India’s Super 8 clash against South Africa on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Gavaskar backed the likely return of Axar Patel in place of Arshdeep Singh, while predicting that Washington Sundar will retain his spot for his batting depth and finishing ability. He noted that Kuldeep Yadav may not feature due to limited past success against South Africa and the pitch conditions.

Gavaskar’s insights underline a simple but crucial message for India’s young stars: patience, smart cricket, and composure at the start can unlock their full potential on the world stage.