Kamal Ghorui
India’s aggressive start in the T20 World Cup semi-final against England cricket team at Wankhede Stadium came with a familiar talking point. The early dismissal of Abhishek Sharma once again triggered a wave of reactions on social media.Abhishek’s campaign in the tournament has been a frustrating one. The left handed opener managed just 9 runs from seven balls before getting out, continuing a run of low scores that has kept fans talking throughout the competition.
His numbers in the 2026 T20 World Cup tell the story of an inconsistent run. Abhishek has scores of 0 (1), 0 (4), 0 (3), 15 (12), 55 (30), 10 (11) and now 9 (7). One area that has drawn particular attention is his struggle against off spin. Across five innings against off spinners in this tournament, Abhishek has faced 27 balls and scored 29 runs while being dismissed three times. The average of 9.66 and strike rate of 107.40 have become a talking point among fans analysing India’s batting.Within minutes of his latest dismissal, social media was flooded with memes. Many fans joked about the repeated early wickets while others questioned whether India should rethink the opening combination for big matches. Some supporters also pointed out that young players often go through rough phases in global tournaments.
Abhishek Sharma social media reaction
Abhishek Sharma social media reaction
Abhishek Sharma social media reaction
While Abhishek’s exit sparked debate online, the mood inside the stadium quickly shifted thanks to Sanju Samson. The wicketkeeper batter continued his outstanding form and brought up another half century, his second in a row in the tournament.Samson’s fearless strokeplay set the tone for India’s innings after Harry Brook won the toss and asked India to bat first. The right hander attacked the England bowlers from the start and helped India race to 111 for one in just nine overs.As the semi-final unfolds, Abhishek’s struggles remain a major talking point online. Yet Samson’s brilliant knock has given Indian fans plenty to cheer about on a big night in Mumbai.
