“You Were in Bad Form, I Was Out for Two Years”: Ishan Kishan’s Witty Reply to Abhishek Sharma
NEW DELHI — Indian cricketers Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma shared candid reflections on their respective struggles with form and national team selection following India’s 96-run victory over New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final in Ahmedabad.
Both opening batters played instrumental roles in securing India’s third T20 World Cup title, joining the historic ICC championship runs of 2007 and 2024. Both players registered half-centuries in the final, but their paths to the championship match featured steep challenges.
Abhishek Sharma’s Resurgence in the Final
Abhishek faced intense scrutiny during the tournament’s group stages. The left-handed opener registered three consecutive ducks before finding marginal success against South Africa. Despite a brief return to form against Zimbabwe, he struggled against top-tier bowling attacks from the West Indies and England.
However, the Indian team management maintained their faith in the young opener. Abhishek justified this backing in the final against New Zealand, scoring 52 runs from 21 deliveries. His aggressive innings included eight sixes, providing India with a dominant powerplay start.
Tournament Performance Breakdown: Abhishek Sharma
| Opponent | Runs Scored | Tournament Stage |
|---|---|---|
| USA | 0 | Group Stage |
| Pakistan | 0 | Group Stage |
| Netherlands | 0 | Group Stage |
| South Africa | 15 | Super 8s |
| Zimbabwe | 55 | Super 8s |
| West Indies | 10 | Super 8s |
| England | 9 | Semi-final |
| New Zealand | 52 (21 balls) | Final |
Ishan Kishan’s Return to the National Squad
Kishan’s route to the 2026 T20 World Cup featured a prolonged absence from international cricket. After being omitted from the BCCI central contracts list, the wicketkeeper-batter spent two years out of the national setup. He rebuilt his case for selection by leading Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, eventually scoring three half-centuries during the World Cup campaign.
During the post-match press conference in Ahmedabad, a reporter asked the duo about managing career setbacks. As Abhishek prepared to answer, Kishan humorously intervened.
“I can also answer that. You were in bad form for a month; I spent two years out of the team,” Kishan noted, prompting laughter from the press pool.
The Psychology of Overcoming Setbacks
Shifting to a serious tone, Kishan outlined his mental conditioning approach, emphasizing self-belief and team contribution over individual metrics.
- Maintain Self-Belief: Avoiding self-doubt prevents unnecessary pressure during matches.
- Support Teammates: Helping others during their poor form builds a supportive environment that reciprocates.
- Shift Focus: Concentrating on advancing the entire team rather than focusing solely on personal performance.
“This is what I learned in domestic cricket,” Kishan stated. “Have good company, do hard work, be happy, and never lose confidence in yourself. And you definitely have to improve your game.”
Abhishek echoed these sentiments, crediting the Indian dressing room environment for his turnaround. Despite his initial struggles, he noted the unwavering support from the coaching staff and teammates.
“Your company matters a lot in these times. If you are surrounded by people who are there to make you happy and make you feel that you have achieved something, it helps,” Abhishek explained. “All the players, coaches, and support staff—I never saw any doubt on anyone’s face even though I was doubting myself.”
India’s comprehensive 96-run victory over New Zealand cements their dominance in the shortest format, adding the 2026 trophy to their growing collection of international silverware. Fans can review complete match statistics and historical data on ESPNcricinfo.