The debate on Team India’s playing XI is intense before the T20 World Cup 2026 final. Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif has advised to give rest to Abhishek Sharma, who is struggling with poor form, and give a chance to Rinku Singh in his place.
IND vs NZ Final Today Live: Before the final of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the debate regarding the playing XI of Team India has intensified. Especially many questions are being raised regarding the place of opener Abhishek Sharma. Meanwhile, former Indian batsman Mohammad Kaif has given a clear message to India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir that the team should consider changes before the final.
Abhishek Sharma only 80 runs in 7 innings
Abhishek Sharma’s performance in this tournament has not been as expected. He has scored just 80 runs in 7 innings, which includes one half-century. Apart from this, he got out early in many important matches. Even against England in the semi-finals, he returned to the pavilion after scoring only 9 runs. In such a situation, many cricket experts believe that in a big match like the final, the team should consider different options.
Mohammad Kaif suggested change
Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes that if Team India wants, it can give rest to Abhishek before the final. On his YouTube channel, he said that making changes in small formats is not a big deal. Giving an example, he said that Roston Chase had opened against India due to Brendon King being out of form. After providing support for a few matches, the team made changes for the big match. Kaif says that just like Sanju Samson was given a chance and he performed brilliantly, a change can prove beneficial for the team.
Advice to give chance to Rinku Singh in place of Abhishek
If Abhishek Sharma is sat out in the final, then according to Mohammad Kaif Rinku Singh should get a chance in his place. He said that Rinku has been scoring runs continuously in every format, be it domestic cricket, Ranji Trophy or IPL. Kaif believes that when one player is struggling and the other is sitting on the bench despite performing well, the team should not hesitate in making changes.
Kuldeep or Siraj as bowling option
If Team India wants to include additional bowlers in place of batsmen, then according to Kaif, Kuldeep Yadav or Mohammad Siraj can be good options. Both players have the ability to take wickets in different situations and can give extra strength to the team in big matches.
Sanju Samson’s form changed perception
Questions were also raised about Sanju Samson’s form during the tournament, but he answered the critics with his performance. He led the team to victory by playing brilliant innings against West Indies and England.
Big difference in experience of Abhishek and Sanju
According to Mohammad Kaif, the biggest difference between Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson is experience. Abhishek is still quite new to ICC events. The pressure of playing in a big tournament like the World Cup is different. On the other hand, Sanju Samson has scored more than 8000 runs in T20 cricket and has been playing on the big stage for a long time. He made his debut for India about 11 years ago and has now become an established player. Kaif believes that Abhishek is still young and needs to work more on his game. Therefore he should not be compared with Sanju Samson right now.