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India’s Bowling Coach Confirms No Team Talk on Sharma’s Form Ahead of Super‑Eight Clash

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Coach Morne Morkel Denies Any Discussion of Sharma’s Recent Ducks The South African bowling coach stated unequivocally that the squad has not held any meetings about Abhishek Sharma’s three consecutive zeroes, calling him a “world‑class player” and emphasizing that the team’s focus remains on overall performance rather than individual slump [1]. He added that the coaching staff expects Sharma to contribute runs as the World Cup enters a “very important phase,” reinforcing confidence in his abilities despite recent scores [1]. Morkel also praised the pitch curators for delivering surfaces that consistently exceed 200 runs, highlighting the favorable batting conditions that could aid Sharma’s comeback [1].

Sharma Spent Training Session with Head Coach Gautam Gambhir on February 20 On the day before the Super‑Eight match, Sharma was observed working closely with India’s head coach, focusing on technique and game‑plan adjustments, though he has not yet opened his account in the tournament [1]. The practice session underscored the team’s intent to integrate Sharma back into the batting order without public pressure, aligning with the coaching staff’s stance of not discussing his form publicly [1]. This preparation sets the stage for his first batting opportunity in the upcoming fixture against South Africa on February 22 [1].

Upcoming Super‑Eight Match Provides Sharma First Batting Chance India’s next World Cup encounter is the Super‑Eight clash with South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 22, which will likely be Sharma’s debut at the crease in the tournament [1]. The venue’s recent 170‑run opening‑match surface taught India to temper aggression, a lesson that may influence Sharma’s approach in the high‑scoring environment Morkel described [1]. The combination of favorable pitches and strategic coaching support positions Sharma to potentially break his duck streak in a critical knockout stage [1].

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Timeline

May 8, 2025 – Rohit Sharma retires from Test cricket, ending a 67‑Test career with 4,301 runs, 12 centuries and a highest score of 212. [5]

May 12, 2025 – Virat Kohli retires from Test cricket, concluding 123 Tests with 9,230 runs, 30 centuries and a best of 254 not out. [5]

Aug 24, 2025 – Cheteshwar Pujara announces retirement from all forms of cricket, closing a 103‑Test career with 7,195 runs and 19 centuries. [5]

June 20, 2025 – India launches a five‑match Test series in England at Headingley, seeking its first series win there since 2007. [2]

2025 – India suffers a 0‑2 home Test loss to South Africa, heightening scrutiny of its red‑ball programme. [4]

Dec 21, 2025 – Rohit Sharma says he “felt the sport had taken everything out of him” and contemplated quitting after the 2023 World Cup final defeat. [6]

Dec 22, 2025 – Rohit confirms his retirement from T20Is and Tests, notes he was stripped of the ODI captaincy earlier in the year, and vows to play through to the 2027 World Cup. [6]

Jan 1, 2026 – Shubman Gill is appointed ODI captain as the board removes Rohit Sharma from the role, marking a leadership shift ahead of the 2027 World Cup cycle. [4]

Jan 10, 2026 – Shubman Gill urges a longer preparation window for red‑ball cricket, stating “preparation is really big,” and BCCI officials meet to chart a Test‑cricket roadmap. [3]

Jan 10, 2026 – BCCI president Mithun Manhas and senior officials discuss a roadmap after the home whitewash by South Africa, aiming to improve Test readiness. [3]

Jan 10, 2026 – Secretary Devajit Saikia says the board will “imbue red‑ball skills among youngsters” to counter the T20‑focused development trend. [3]

Feb 20, 2026 – Abhishek Sharma trains with head coach Gautam Gambhir, has not yet batted in the World Cup, and bowling coach Morne Morkel insists “Absolutely, no discussion. He is a world‑class player.” [1]

Feb 20, 2026 – Morkel praises curators for delivering 200‑plus run pitches late in the season and notes the opening match’s 170‑run surface taught India to adjust. [1]

Feb 22, 2026 – India faces South Africa in a Super Eight clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium, giving Sharma his first batting opportunity in the tournament. [1]

2026 (June) – India schedules a one‑off home Test against Afghanistan and later away tours to Sri Lanka and New Zealand, limiting home Test cricket. [4]

2026 (calendar) – The year features two World Cups – the women’s T20 World Cup in England and the men’s home World Cup – shaping India’s preparation focus. [4]

Historical (1971, 1986, 2007) – India has only three Test series victories in England, the last in 2007, underscoring the difficulty of the 2025 series. [2]

Historical (2021‑22) – The most recent England‑India Test series ends in a 2‑2 draw, showing competitive balance but no series winner. [2]

Historical (2024) – India wins the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, boosting confidence after the 2023 final loss. [6]

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