Abhishek Sharma has not scored a single run yet in this T20 World Cup. But in Ahmedabad, he made sure his voice was heard loud and clear.
Ahead of India’s Super 8 opener against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the young left-hander brought energy into the camp with a powerful Punjabi war cry during training.
As the team stood in a tight huddle under the lights on Friday, a video shared by the BCCI showed Abhishek stepping forward. He gave a short, charged-up speech and ended it with “Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akaal.” The response was instant. Teammates and support staff roared back, turning the moment into one of unity and belief.
High-stakes reunion in Ahmedabad
The timing of the moment made it even more powerful. India and South Africa, finalists in 2024, are meeting again on February 22, this time in Ahmedabad.
The Proteas, led by Aiden Markram, arrive with momentum and quiet determination. India are unbeaten so far, but the Super 8 stage brings tighter margins and tougher tests. Reputation alone will not be enough.
Episode 4 of The Speech had one clear message: Keep enjoying the success of each other! 👠ðŸ‘#TeamIndia 🇮🇳 | #T20WorldCup | #MenInBlue | #INDvNED | @OfficialAbhi04 https://t.co/bqB5j4JUXD
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 20, 2026
A tough tournament so far
For Abhishek, the passion in the huddle stands in sharp contrast to his numbers.
He has registered ducks against the USA, Pakistan and the Netherlands. He also missed the Namibia match due to illness. Picked for his fearless approach at the top of the order, the opener is yet to find his rhythm in this World Cup. But there are no signs of panic around him.
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India back Abhishek during run slump
Despite the lean patch, the team management has shown complete faith in him. Bowling coach Morne Morkel made it clear there are no doubts about his place. "Absolutely no discussion. He's a world-class player. So far in the tournament, luckily, there's been some guys standing up for Abhishek (others scoring runs)," Morkel said.
He also stressed how important this phase of the tournament is. He added, "But we're going through a very important phase of the World Cup now, and we expect him to do well... And I'm pretty sure, not just for the team, but also for all the viewers watching the game. Because he's entertaining, and we love to see that."
India remain unbeaten. But in the Super 8s, that record means little. Against a confident South Africa side, it will all come down to execution under pressure.
