As the debate over Abhishek Sharma’s place in India’s playing XI for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 final intensifies, former India batter Mohammad Kaif has urged head coach Gautam Gambhir to consider resting the struggling opener.

Abhishek has endured a difficult campaign, managing just 80 runs in seven innings, including a solitary half-century against Zimbabwe. His poor run continued in the semifinal against England, where he was dismissed for only nine runs, further fuelling calls for a change at the top of the order.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif suggested that India should not hesitate to make changes ahead of the summit clash. He cited the example of the West Indies promoting Roston Chase to open in place of the out-of-form Brandon King in a crucial match against India.

“India can give Abhishek Sharma a break. He has played several matches now, and there is no harm in making changes in the shortest format. Like when Sanju was brought in and he delivered, that move worked for the team,” Kaif said.

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If Abhishek is left out of the final, Kaif believes Rinku Singh should replace him in the playing XI. He also pointed out that India have quality alternatives if they prefer to strengthen their bowling attack, naming Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj as potential options.

“Rinku Singh scores runs everywhere — whether it is Tests, the Ranji Trophy, or the IPL. Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj also take wickets consistently. If Abhishek is struggling and Rinku is sitting in the dugout despite performing well, then it makes sense to bring him in,” Kaif added.

There were also doubts surrounding Sanju Samson ahead of the tournament, but the wicketkeeper-batter silenced critics with two match-winning knocks against West Indies and England. However, Kaif stressed that Abhishek should not be compared with Samson, pointing out the difference in their experience.

“Abhishek Sharma is still new to ICC events. It is different when you play in tournaments like the World Cup. Sanju Samson, on the other hand, has over 8000 runs in T20 cricket and is already an established player. Abhishek is young and still developing his game,” Kaif said.