A nightmare unfolds for Team India in the T20 World Cup: openers totaling 34 runs over five matches. The South Africa game Sunday crystallized the crisis, as Ahmedabad’s packed stands witnessed yet another collapse.
Needing 188, Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan took guard. Ishan exited scoreless in four balls. Abhishek’s 15 provided scant relief, stranding the innings early.
History repeats: USA—8 runs, Abhishek 0. Namibia (Abhishek ill)—Ishan-Samson 25. Pakistan—1 run, Abhishek duck despite Ishan’s 77. Netherlands—nil from the duo.
The implications are stark. Defending champions can’t thrive with such fragility. Powerplays lost mean middle-order rescues, draining resources. Management eyes fixes: technique tweaks, new faces, or role reversals. On home turf, expectations soar—openers must ignite or risk the trophy slipping away. Time for heroics or hard decisions.