India may beat the United States by 29 runs in the 2026 T20 World Cup opener, but Group A raises serious doubts about Abhishek Sharma. Former India fast bowler Lakshmipati Balaji felt that the match exposed a major weakness in the team.

Abhishek Sharma’s early exit against USA exposes India’s weaknesses

The defending champions are in deep trouble after Abhishek Sharma got out on the first ball he faced. Once the left-hander’s cheap opening fell, India’s batting collapsed severely. India was struggling at 77/6 in the 13th over and the pressure was palpable.

Fortunately, India captain Suryakumar Yadav then stepped up to the plate. He scored a brilliant unbeaten 84 off 49 balls and helped India post a record of 161/9 in 20 overs.

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A bowling attack led by Mohammed Siraj then helped India narrowly beat the United States at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

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Lakshmipati Balaji warns India’s opening plan is fragile

The Men in Blue will now take on Namibia in the second match of Group A of the 2026 T20 World Cup in Delhi on February 12. Ahead of this clash, Balaji revealed a major issue as he feels the Indian side is too reliant on Abhishek’s quick starts.

Balaji pointed out that Ishan Kishan “bang” back to the side; he is still adapting, which means Abhishek Sharma does not have a strong and regular opening partner who can control him when he fails.

Speaking to Star Sports, Lakshmipati Balaji said, “The starts he provided were important. Although Ishan Kishan played well, he made his comeback only recently. So, Abhishek Sharma still does not have a regular opening partner who can pick him up when he falls. The over-reliance on Abhishek Sharma is obvious. When he got out early, India was struggling.”

Balaji issues strong warning to Abhishek

The former India bowler also feels that Abhishek needs to show more maturity at the start of the innings as the team has started setting up smart pitches for him, especially in the off-side position.

While the Punjabi lad has a great shot, Balaji feels the explosive batsman must understand the game better and avoid taking dangerous shots too early.

Also read: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma return to T20I amid 2026 T20 World Cup injury crisis

Balaji further noted, “Teams start setting up the offside for him. So, he has to bring some game awareness to the forefront. There is no doubt about his shooting ability, but he should respect the bowlers and the conditions in the initial stages. So, if he can learn that, it will benefit India a lot.”

Balaji slams India’s decision to target US

Meanwhile, the former India pacer also raised questions about the batting order against the United States. He felt that the big shot Shivam Dube came at the wrong time. When the Men in Blue were already under pressure at 46/3, Dube came on and was dismissed for a first-ball duck.

Balaji believes that Dube will be more effective when he comes out later in the innings after building a strong partnership. In such tense moments, Balaji feels experience is crucial. He suggested that players like Hardik Pandya or Axar Patel can handle the pressure better.

Axar has experience across formats and has played many solid innings in difficult situations. Balaji also explained why Pandya is usually hampered in the final overs because of his power shots. But in a crisis like the one against the United States, experienced players should step in early to limit the damage.