After 'slogger' remark, Pakistan's Mohammad Amir makes fresh Abhishek Sharma admission: 'India were exposed'
Times of India
by TOI SPORTS DESKFebruary 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
India's T20 World Cup campaign suffered a significant blow after their heavy 76-run defeat to South Africa in the Super 8 stage, despite entering the match unbeaten in the group stages. The loss has made their path to the semi-finals more challenging, with concerns mounting over opener Abhishek Sharma's form. After scoring just 15 runs and failing three times consecutively at the top of the order, Sharma's struggles have placed additional pressure on India's middle order, which struggled against South Africa's strong bowling attack.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir, known for his earlier criticism of Sharma as a "slogger," has offered advice to the Indian opener. Amir highlighted that Sharma's aggressive approach, which yielded only 14 runs from boundaries off poor deliveries, is not sustainable at the international level. He urged Sharma to adopt a more patient and disciplined batting style, emphasizing the importance of playing within himself and targeting areas rather than attacking blindly.
Amir also criticized India's overall team strategy and selection, pointing out mistakes such as sending three left-handed openers and benching key spinners like Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel against South Africa's spin-sensitive lineup. He argued that these decisions undermine the team's ability to compete effectively in high-stakes matches. Amir's comments underscored India's vulnerabilities, particularly their struggle while chasing targets for the first time in the tournament.
This development is significant as it highlights the challenges faced by India's young and inexperienced squad in handling high-pressure situations on the global stage. With key players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma absent, India's ability to adapt and perform under pressure will be crucial in their quest to rebuild momentum in the T20 World Cup. Amir's insights provide valuable perspective on the team's shortcomings and offer constructive advice for improving their performance moving forward.
Verticals
worldasia
Originally published on Times of India on 2/23/2026