Former India batsman Mohammad Kaif urges team management to consider bold changes ahead of 2026 T20 World Cup final, hints at in-form opener Abhishek Sharma Should have been rested in the title match against the New Zealand national cricket team. India will face New Zealand in the summit meeting at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.Kraft trusts Indian think tank led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadavshould not hesitate to make changes for such a crucial game. Abhishek had a tough game in the tenth edition of the tournament, crossing the 50-run mark only once and struggling against spin bowling on several occasions.
Opposition teams targeted this weakness by introducing spinners in the powerplay. Abhishek fell down four times during the match, usually while trying to attack from the start. The aggressive approach that usually defines his batting hasn’t paid off this time around and he’s struggled to adapt to spin shots or take time to settle at the crease.The situation was also complicated by health issues before the game. Abhishek suffered a stomach infection shortly before the start of the match and had to be hospitalized. The disease caused significant weight loss and a lack of strength that seemed to affect his bat swing and overall confidence. His woes extended to the field as well, with the left-hander missing two catches in India’s Super Eights match against West Indies.With these factors in mind, Kraft believes the team can start by bringing in Linku Singh finals.“India can give Abhishek Sharma a break. He has played a lot of games now. There’s no harm in making changes. You can make changes in the shortest format. Roston Chase’s Brandon King was out of form against India. They backed him for five or six games, but in one big game they gave him a break. I believe, like you brought in Sanju and he did a great job, so this change is good for you,” Kraft said on his YouTube channel.“India have proven players. Rinku Singh’s scores are everywhere, be it Test matches, Ranji Trophy or tournaments intense pulsed light. Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj also took wickets here and there. When you look at the dugout to see who can replace Abhishek Sharma, you will see Rinku Singh sitting there. So, bring him in. One is struggling and the other is sitting on the outside despite doing well,” he added.Abhishek’s lack of top form also prompted the team management to reintroduce Sanzhou Samson Entering the match eleven. The wicketkeeper-batsman responded impressively, hitting match-winning knocks against West Indies and England and was awarded the Man of the Match award in both matches.Kaif also pointed out that Samson’s experience in high-pressure tournaments sets him apart from Abhishek, who is relatively new to global events.“The biggest difference between Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson is that Abhishek Sharma is very new to ICC events. If you keep ICC events aside, he has a great record. There is a big difference when it comes to playing in ICC events like the World Cup,” Kaif said.“Sanju has scored over 8000 runs in T20S. His name is in the top 10 in the IPL, both in terms of runs scored and six-hitting ability. He is already a mature player. Abhishek Sharma is still young and needs to improve his game. He is not a finished product. Don’t compare him with Sanju. Sanju is already a finished product. He made his debut in India 11 years ago,” he concluded.
