World No. 1 T20I bowler Varun Chakaravarthy has shared a positive update about world No. 1 T20I batter Abhishek Sharma‘s recovery after India crushed Namibia by 93 runs in their second Group A match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
. While speaking to reporters in the mixed zone after India registered their biggest win in the T20 World Cup by run margin in Delhi on Thursday (February 12), Varun stated that Abhishek looks good and he might play the next match for India.World No. 1 T20I team India is scheduled to face arch-rivals Pakistan in their third Group A match of T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday, February 15. The high-voltage match between the two teams will be played at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Abhishek, who made his T20 World Cup
debut for India on February 7 in Mumbai against the USA, missed the match against Namibia in Delhi on February 12 due to illness.
“I think he will play the next match; I don’t know. But as far as I have spoken to him, he looks good, and he did some practice today also. He told that he is on the way,” Varun said during the mixed zone media interactions.
Varun’s post-match comments have raised the possibility of Abhishek’s inclusion in India’s playing XI for the big match against the Pakistani team.
But Varun’s comments were in sharp contrast to Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s. During the toss, Surya, when asked about changes in India’s playing XI for the match against Namibia, stated that Abhishek is still not fine and might miss a game or two.
“Abhishek is still not fine; he will miss a game or two. Sanju comes in, a similar batter, explosive,” Surya had said during the toss.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also took to X to share an update on Abhishek after he missed the match against Namibia.
According to the tweet posted by the BCCI, Abhishek is still recovering from illness, and the BCCI’s medical team is closely monitoring his progress.
“Update: Abhishek Sharma is still recovering from his illness and was unavailable for selection. The BCCI medical team is closely monitoring his progress,” the BCCI tweeted.
In Abhishek’s absence, Sanju Samson opened the innings for India on Thursday and scored 22 runs from just 8 balls. He slammed three sixes and one in a row but failed to convert a good start into a big score.
