Former Indian Test opener Sadagopan Ramesh has backed Suryakumar Yadav to support Abhishek Sharma ahead of the T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands. Abhishek bagged a golden duck in the team’s opening match against the USA.

The left-hander then missed the next game against Namibia in Delhi due to a stomach infection but he was once again dismissed without troubling the scorers in the last match against arch-rivals Pakistan.

On the other hand, Suryakumar Yadav, who struggled with his form in 2025, scored 242 runs in five matches against New Zealand. SKY then scored a magnum opus knock of 84 runs off just 49 balls in the team’s opening game against the USA.

Ramesh said on Star Sports, “There was a time when Suryakumar Yadav also used to alternate between a duck and a half-century. So the captain himself, Suryakumar Yadav, can teach Abhishek Sharma how to come out of this. But don’t change Abhishek Sharma’s game. Because if there’s a path to reach a final in the World Cup, the thought should be that Abhishek Sharma just needs to win two or three matches singlehandedly.”

The former flamboyant batter wants the team’s think tank not to have a serious discussion with Abhishek Sharma regarding his playing style.

“If you start talking to him after he fails in two innings, he’ll start thinking about altering his game. Then it can play on his mind as a batter. So Abhishek Sharma must believe in this batting style as it’s what took him to World No.1. One good knock will change everything,” said Ramesh (via the aforementioned source).

India will take on the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Wednesday.