Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has offered practical guidance to India opener Abhishek Sharma as the young batter struggles for consistency in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup. Despite entering the tournament as the top ranked T20I batter Abhishek has endured a difficult campaign with limited contributions at the top of the order.
The left hander has scored 80 runs across six matches including a half century against Zimbabwe in the Super 8 stage but has otherwise found it tough to convert starts. His dismissal against the West Indies where he fell cheaply to spin added to concerns about his form heading into the crucial semi final clash against England at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Ponting believes that constant net sessions may not be the solution during a slump. Instead he suggested that players sometimes benefit from stepping back mentally rather than overtraining. According to the former World Cup winning captain skills remain intact even when runs are not flowing and a short mental reset can help restore clarity and confidence.
He emphasised that tournament pressure can magnify struggles and that a brief break from intense batting practice combined with light training and fielding drills may help Abhishek rediscover rhythm. Ponting also backed the Indian team management to show faith in the opener given his proven match winning ability and previous success against England at the same venue.
At the same time Ponting acknowledged India’s squad depth noting that alternatives such as Rinku Singh remain available if the management opts for a tactical change. However he expressed confidence that Abhishek could produce a defining innings when it matters most.
With India preparing for a high stakes semi final the focus now shifts to whether Abhishek can turn potential into performance on the big stage.