India National Cricket Team vs Netherlands National Cricket Team Match: Veteran Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has issued a warning to India opener Abhishek Sharma following a disappointing start to the T20 World Cup 2026. Sharma, who entered the tournament with high expectations, has now registered three consecutive ducks in as many matches, facing just eight balls across the group stage. His latest dismissal came in India’s final Group A match against the Netherlands, where he was bowled by Aryan Dutt on the third ball of the first over while attempting a pull shot.
Speaking on the Pakistani show Game on Hai, Amir compared Sharma’s struggles to those faced by Pakistan opener Saim Ayub early in his career during the Pakistan Super League. Amir highlighted how bowlers quickly identify technical weaknesses and exploit them.
“Saim had the same issue when he came to play the PSL a few years back. He was new and was hitting no-look shots. Nobody knew his weakness because most of his shots were on the leg side. Now, if you bowl at the third or fourth stump line, he struggles to decide. Even in his last two matches, he was dismissed playing on the off side. Unless he improves his off-side game, he cannot progress. Strong bowlers will always test your weakness and push you out of your comfort zone,” Amir said.
“Same for Abhishek. He wants every ball in the slot so he can hit. But at the bigger stages, or in ODIs, har ball lapete mein nahi le sakte (you cannot slog every ball in pressure cricket). Salman Agha and Aryan Dutt got him out in similar fashion. International cricket will expose you,” Amir added.
The young left-hander’s string of failures has equalled the record for most ducks by an Indian in T20 World Cups, joining Ashish Nehra. Overall, Shahid Afridi of Pakistan and Tillakaratne Dilshan of Sri Lanka hold the record with five ducks. India’s team management will hope Sharma recovers his form before the Super 8 stage of the tournament, as the defending champions cannot afford prolonged struggles from their top-order batsmen. In 2026 alone, Sharma has now recorded five T20I ducks, matching Sanju Samson’s record for most in a calendar year.
India v Netherlands | Match Highlights | Men's T20 World Cup 2026
