The T20 World Cup 2026 collision between India and The Netherlands It was expected to be a regular league match at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Instead, it provided one of the strangest moments of the tournament.
When India’s form opens Abhishek Sharma came out to bat, fans immediately noticed something unusual – he wasn’t wearing his jersey. The left-hander, ranked No. 1 in T20Is, was spotted in a shirt bearing ’73’ – the number associated with the fast bowler. Muhammad Siraj.
This moment caused instant confusion. Has Abhishek violated ICC rules? Was India in trouble? Social media erupted with questions before the first boundary was hit.
Why did Abhishek Sharma wear Mohammed Siraj’s jersey?
As it turned out, the explanation was less dramatic than the online frenzy suggested. Abhishek reportedly left his jersey bag, including the registered match jerseys, at the team hotel.
With India winning the toss and electing to bat, there was little time left to bring back the forgotten tools. Instead of delaying the match and issuing a disciplinary penalty, the key found a solution. He first tried on his team-mate’s spare shirt and ended up wearing Sirac’s shirt – conveniently available as Sirac was not in the squad for that match.
Commentators Sunil Gavaskar and Nasir Hussain clarified the situation mid-air, confirming that it was a logistical failure rather than an intentional act.
Has Abhishek violated ICC rules?
Short answer: No.
While the ICC maintains strict dress and identity guidelines during global tournaments, there is room for relaxation in exceptional cases. Abhishek’s case belonged to this category.
1. Emergency situations
The ICC Dress and Equipment Rules give match referees discretionary powers in unforeseen circumstances such as damaged or inappropriate uniforms. Since this was a random oversight, officials treated it as an emergency replacement.
2. Uniform compliance
Although the name and number on the back did not match the player, the jersey itself was the official Indian team jersey with the appropriate tournament branding and sponsor logos. Therefore, the professional appearance of the match was not compromised.
3. Official approval
Importantly, the team management informed the match officials before Abhishek’s appearance. A conduct violation and penalty were not imposed with their consent to avoid a delay of game scenario.
Similar cases have occurred in the past, with players occasionally borrowing jerseys due to travel or logistical errors without facing sanctions.
Also READ: Sunil Gavaskar reveals how Abhishek Sharma can rediscover lost mojo in T20 World Cup 2026
Abhishek’s poor form continues in T20 World Cup 2026
If the form drama created interest, Abhishek’s performance deepened the story. Unfortunately, the shirt he borrowed did not change his fate. He was dismissed for a three-ball duck by Dutch spinner Aryan Dutt.
The layoff was an unwelcome milestone. It was his third consecutive duck in the 2026 T20 World Cup – against the USA, Pakistan and now the Netherlands – making him the first Indian player to register a hat-trick of ducks in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.
Also READ: IND vs NED: Fans shocked as Abhishek Sharma celebrates third consecutive duck in T20 World Cup 2026
