How cricketer Abhishek Sharma fixed his weakness against off-spinners

Indian cricketer Abhishek Sharma has improved his batting average against off-spinners from 10.6 at the 2026 T20 World Cup to 42 in international matches since then. During the World Cup tournament, off-spinners Salman Agha, Aryan Dutt, and Will Jacks all took his wicket while he struggled with his feet stuck at the crease.

Technical Shifts

His numbers also climbed during the Indian Premier League, where his average and strike rate against off-spin reached 62 and 230. Sunrisers Hyderabad assistant coach Simon Helmot explained that Abhishek now assesses the situation carefully, playing the first few deliveries with caution before using the pace of the pitch. Punjab domestic team head coach Amit Uniyal added that the batsman now reads the turn, going straight when there is no turn and hitting over-cover when the ball turns. His father, Raj Kumar Sharma, stated that Abhishek does not view off-spinners as a threat and possesses the shots to counter them.

Context

Top-order batsmen in modern T20 cricket often use data analytics and specific net sessions to counter particular match-ups like off-spin. Adapting footwork against turning deliveries is a standard technical adjustment taught at the professional level to protect the powerplay overs.