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Chawla Backs Abhishek Sharma, Suggests India XI Change for Netherlands Clash

Former Indian spinner Piyush Chawla has defended opener Abhishek Sharma's form, attributing his early World Cup ducks to a high-risk, high-reward batting style. Chawla suggested India might recall Arshdeep Singh in place of Kuldeep Yadav for their final group match against the Netherlands on a different pitch. He also analyzed captain Suryakumar Yadav's conscious decision to take more time at the crease to overcome a lean patch. With India already qualified for the Super 8s, Chawla sees no need for further experimentation in the playing XI.

Key Points: Piyush Chawla Defends Abhishek Sharma's T20 World Cup Form

  • Chawla defends Abhishek's high-risk approach
  • Suggests Arshdeep for Kuldeep vs Netherlands
  • Praises Suryakumar's conscious batting shift
  • India qualified for Super 8s
3 min read

T20 WC: Piyush Chawla feels 'there is nothing to worry' about Abhishek's form

Former spinner Piyush Chawla says there's "nothing to worry" about Abhishek Sharma's form, discusses India's XI and Suryakumar Yadav's approach.

"There's nothing to worry about, to be very honest, because in the last 18 months or so, we have seen what Abhishek is capable of. - Piyush Chawla"

New Delhi, Feb 18

Former Indian spinner Piyush Chawla has defended young opener Abhishek Sharma, who is struggling in the current T20 World Cup 2026, by describing him as a player "who plays with a high-risk, high-reward" approach.

Abhishek has played only two matches in the T20 World Cup 2026 and is yet to score a run, as he got out on a duck in both innings. Chawla feels that the opener's form should not be a worry for the team as they march towards defending their title during the ongoing tournament.

"There's nothing to worry about, to be very honest, because in the last 18 months or so, we have seen what Abhishek is capable of. He's the kind of batter who plays with a high-risk, high-reward approach, and you have to be a little patient with these kinds of players," Chawla told Jio Hotstar.

"As a bowler, the margin of error against him is very, very small. When the ball is right up there, in the two-metre slot, he has the lowest strike rate, and I feel that's because when the ball is new, bowlers try to get some swing out of it. Otherwise, in the remaining ones, he has a very high strike rate," he added.

India has already qualified for the Super 8s and will be playing their last group stage match against the Netherlands on Wednesday. Chawla has suggested one change in India's playing XI for the match.

"It's horses for courses for India at the moment. They went to Sri Lanka, where it was a spinning wicket and a slow surface. So Arshdeep might come back in, and Kuldeep Yadav will have to make way. For this game, it's likely to be just one change. Kuldeep, unfortunately, misses out. "He's a quality bowler," he said.

"I don't see any other changes. They are all quality players in the 15, waiting for their opportunity. Whenever they get their chance, if needed, they're ready to go. So there's no need for experimentation," Chawla added.

The 37-year-old former spinner also spoke about the change in Suryakumar Yadav's approach, which helped the skipper get back to his best after a lean patch.

"It is a conscious choice to take some time initially. Just before the New Zealand series, Surya hadn't scored runs, and people were talking about his form. But he bounced back in that series and made sure he took his time, because he's the kind of batter who can recover his strike rate at any point. It just takes one or two overs. If he bats for 30 to 40 balls, he can still end up striking at 180," he said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
I appreciate the technical insight from Chawla about the two-metre slot. It shows the game has become so nuanced. But as a fan, it's hard not to worry when your opener has two ducks in a World Cup. Hope he fires in the Super 8s.
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Ananya R
High-risk is fine, but zero runs? 😅 The team is winning, so maybe we can afford patience. But if this continues in the knockout stages, the management might have to think hard. Good that we have options like Jaiswal waiting.
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Vikram M
Fully agree with Piyush bhai. This is T20 cricket. You back your match-winners. Remember how everyone questioned SKY before the NZ series? Look at him now. Trust the process and the team management.
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Karthik V
His analysis about bringing Arshdeep back for the Netherlands game makes sense. Kuldeep is a champion bowler, but you pick the team for the conditions. Smart cricket. Hope Abhishek gets a good start in that match to regain confidence.
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Michael C
While I understand the "high-risk, high-reward" argument, consistency is key in a tournament like the World Cup. The openers set the tone. I respectfully disagree with Chawla here – there *is* something to worry about, and the team should have a solid Plan B ready.

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