Abhishek Sharma hospitalised, likely to miss T20 World Cup match against Namibia

India just suffered a major scare ahead of their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign as opener Abhishek Sharma has been hospitalised in Delhi due to a stomach infection.

The left-handed batsman was admitted to a private hospital on Monday, February 10, and spent the night there. With India set to face Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday before travelling to Colombo for the high-voltage clash against Pakistan on Sunday, concerns have grown over his availability.

Abhishek was missing from training on Monday and did not take the field during the second innings of India’s opening-day win over the USA on February 7. He had attended a team dinner at head coach Gautam Gambhir’s residence in Delhi on Sunday.

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Speaking at the press conference, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate remained hopeful. “Abhishek still has a few issues with his stomach, but we’re hopeful he’ll be available for the game in two days’ time,” he said. However, according to PTI, the opener is likely to miss the Namibia game as further medical tests are being conducted.

A BCCI source told PTI, "Abhishek has been admitted to a private hospital in Delhi due to a stomach infection. Some tests are being done to ascertain the problem. It is still not clear whether he will be discharged today. But the match against Namibia looks doubtful as of now.”

Why Abhishek Sharma Is Crucial

Abhishek has been in great form since making his international debut in 2024. The 25-year-old has scored 1297 runs in 39 T20Is, including two hundreds and eight fifties, and is currently the No. 1-ranked T20I batter. He played a key role in India’s wins over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025, scoring 110 runs from three matches against the arch-rivals at a strike-rate of 189.66.

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In 2025 alone, the southpaw smashed 859 runs from 21 matches at an average of 42.95 and a strike-rate of 193.46. He has carried that momentum into 2026, scoring 182 runs in six matches so far at a staggering strike-rate of 245.94.

Sanju Samson in line for return

If Abhishek misses out against Namibia, Sanju Samson is expected to return to the playing XI after being dropped for the USA game.

India will hope Abhishek recovers in time, especially with the Pakistan clash around the corner. For now, all eyes remain on the medical updates — and on who walks out to open at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday.