Abhishek Sharma Struggles in IPL 2026, Fans Suggest New Inclusion
Abhishek Sharma faced a tough outing during the match between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Uppal Stadium on April 13. The opener was dismissed on the very first ball he faced, marking his seventh duck of the season in IPL 2026.
Known for his aggressive batting style, Abhishek attempted to take on Jofra Archer right from the start. Unfortunately, he ended up sending a weak edge to Ravi Bishnoi at third man. This latest dismissal has resulted in Abhishek setting an unwanted record for the most ducks by an Indian in a calendar year.
Record of Most Ducks in a Calendar Year (T20s) by an Indian:
- 7 – Abhishek Sharma in 2026 (18 innings)
- 6 – Rohit Sharma in 2018 (32 innings)
- 6 – Sanju Samson in 2024 (32 innings)
- 5 – Gurkeerat Singh Mann in 2013 (19 innings)
This season, he also struggled in the T20 World Cup, where he was out without scoring three times. Notably, this is the second time in three matches that he has fallen for a duck.
Fans Call for New Talent
Following Abhishek’s unfortunate performance, fans on social media have urged the Indian team management to consider including Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the T20I squad. Many expressed dissatisfaction with Abhishek’s approach of trying to attack every delivery, contrasting it with Sooryavanshi’s more respectful batting style.
So far this season, Abhishek has scored 129 runs in five matches, including one half-century. Meanwhile, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is enjoying a fantastic season, currently holding the Orange Cap. The young cricketer has amassed 200 runs in just four matches with an impressive strike rate of 266.66 and an average of 50, including two fifties. He’s managed to take on some of the best bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood, contributing to Rajasthan Royals’ unbeaten run in the tournament.
Conclusion
As the IPL 2026 season progresses, it remains to be seen how both Abhishek Sharma and the management will respond to the mounting pressure from fans and analysts alike.
