Abhishek Sharma’s bad patch remains a focal point ahead of the India vs South Africa Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026. Abhishek Sharma sustained three ducks in a row, which marked the latest low in his professional cricket career.
Ahead of the match, which is scheduled to be held on February 22 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, South Africa, batting coach Ashwell Prince reacts to the Indian opener’s ongoing off form.
During an exclusive interview with Times Now, Ashwell Prince did not want to make any direct comment for any players of the opposing team. He clearly stated that his team’s focus is completely on the upcoming games.
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The India vs South Africa match will be equally crucial for both of the teams. The winner will take a stride forward into the semifinals, and the defeated side will have to win the rest of the two games to keep the hope for the semifinals alive.
Despite Abhishek Sharma’s back-to-back ducks, the former South Africa opener praised the Indian batter, describing him as a fantastic player. Prince explains that every individual player has highs and lows; Abhishek Sharma, a young batter, will experience a lot of these.
Abhishek Sharma is a fantastic player: South Africa batting coach
“I obviously don’t want to make too many comments about any individuals in the Indian team. At the end of the day, he’s a young man, and he will learn that in his cricket career. He will have highs, and that will happen a lot more in the future as well; not only once in your life will that happen”, Prince said.
“But he’s a fantastic player, and we know how dangerous he can be. But from our side, know, our focus is not on one of the Indian players,” the South Africa batting coach opined.
Ashwell Prince, 48, emphasized that their sole focus is on the entire Team India, not only on any individual. Acknowledging India’s batting strength, he said that the Proteas put their efforts into surpassing the opposition’s total.
“They have got a strong lineup. So we have to focus on the whole lineup and the whole team and try and see how we can score one run more than them. That’s the goal. So as I say, the focus on the Indian team is not only on one player,” he further added.
Prince explained about their game plane
The former international believes that all three matches in the Super 8 will be highly competitive. Apart from India, they will have to face the West Indies and New Zealand, who topped their respective groups. But for now, South Africa is paying attention only to the India match.
“It is a big match tomorrow, but so are the matches, the rest of the matches in the Super 8s, against the West Indies, who also topped their group, and against Zimbabwe, who also topped their group. So the three matches as a whole, they will all be tough matches. The focus for now is tomorrow’s match against India,” Ashwell Prince concluded.
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