'We'll play him tomorrow': Suryakumar Yadav fires back at Pakistan skipper over Abhishek Sharma remark
Times of India
by TOI SPORTS DESKFebruary 14, 2026
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Pakistan captain Salman Agha has expressed his hope that India’s Abhishek Sharma will recover in time for their crucial T20 World Cup clash on February 15, emphasizing the desire to face India at full strength. Speaking during a pre-match press conference, Agha acknowledged Sharma as a key player and stated, “I really hope he plays tomorrow because we want to play against the best team they have.” India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav responded humorously, quipping, “If the Pakistan cricket team’s captain wants him to play, we’ll play him tomorrow.”
Abhishek Sharma has been a standout performer for India in the T20 format. With 38 matches and 37 innings under his belt, he boasts an impressive average of 37.05 and a strike rate of 194.74, including two centuries and eight fifties. His recent form has cemented him as one of the world’s top-ranked T20 batters. However, Sharma faced challenges early in the tournament, scoring a golden duck against the USA and missing India’s match against Namibia due to a stomach infection. Despite this, his recovery and potential return for the India vs Pakistan clash have sparked significant interest.
The significance of this match lies in the high stakes of the T20 World Cup. Both India and Pakistan are among the tournament’s strongest contenders, making their head-to-head encounter a highly anticipated showdown. Agha’s hope for Sharma’s participation underscores the importance of facing India
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/14/2026