IND vs SA T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s: Ex-India cricketer Ravi Shastri has revealed that Abhishek Sharma's lean patch is actually a good thing for the Men in Blue, as the star opener hasn't scored a single run till now in the ongoing mega event. He entered this tournament as the No.1 T20I batter but has been struggling to score runs consistently. He got out on a duck during the tournament opener against the USA and then gave the match against Namibia a miss owing to a stomach infection. And then in the matches against Namibia and arch-rival Pakistan, he got out on a duck again.

Suryakumar Yadav too backed him before the Super 8s clash against South Africa; now all eyes will be on Abhishek and how he plays in Ahmedabad. During an interaction on ICC review, Shastri revealed that now the teams will be careful of the threat he can pose in the second half of the mega event.

“I look at it as a positive that Abhishek Sharma has got three zeros. So, save your best for the important periods in the tournament. Teams will be a little worried that he's not got runs," Shastri was quoted as saying on the ICC review.

ALSO READ: Sanjay Manjrekar Slams Suryakumar Yadav For His Slow Knocks In T20 World Cup 2026, Says, 'Really Pulled Down The...'

Even though Abhishek might be going through a lean patch, Shastri said that other players rose to the occasion when the team needed them the most.

“I think the positive (for India) is that in every game, there's been someone who stood up. It has been Ishan Kishan, sometimes Surya (Suryakumar Yadav), in the first game. Tilak Varma has played his part. He's got off to starts but I still think the best of him is still to come," he added.

'INDIA HAS GOT BASES COVERED'

He opined that the host has the best playing XI and that they won't make many changes in their side.

ALSO READ: T20 World Cup 2026: PM Modi Hails Indian-Origin Players In Associate Nations Making Their Presence Felt

“I think it will be pretty much the same side because you've got depth, you've got all bases covered, you've got options, you need options,” he added.

“When there's dew around, you need that extra bowling option. Whether it's a Shivam Dube, whether it's Hardik bowling his full quota of overs, whether it's Tilak Varma who might roll his arm for an over or two, you need those options. I don't think they'll tinker with the side. I think the team that played in the last game was a good side," he concluded.

The Suryakunar Yadav-led side will also lock horns with West Indies and Zimbabwe during the Super 8s stage matches.