In a light moment that brings smiles to fans in the middle of the crowd ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav was seen hilariously checking opener Abhishek Sharma’s pockets during a practice session in Ahmedabad.
The incident, which happened on the eve of India’s crucial Super 8 clash against South Africa, went viral on social media and showed the team’s relaxed camaraderie despite the high stakes.
Suryakumar Yadav checks Abhishek Sharma’s pockets: A funny moment in Team India practice
Video footage from the practice session at the Narendra Modi Stadium complex shows Suryakumar approaching Abhishek and playfully reaching down his pockets as if searching for something. The skipper’s animated gestures and mock-serious expression divided his teammates and support staff.
Well, Suryakumar was jokingly checking the swashbuckler’s pocket for a piece of paper – a reference to what Abhishek celebrated after his famous celebration. First century of Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2025.
We present the video:
Suryakumar checked Abhishek Sharma’s pocket before Africa match.💀
Something big is cooking 👀 pic.twitter.com/wLjoA2umoX
— muffatball vikrant (@Vikrant_1589) February 20, 2026
“Orange Army” record link with Abhishek Sharma
The pocket check stems from an unforgettable IPL moment. After scoring his first IPL ton for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 2025 season, Abhishek pulled out the following note from his pocket: “This is for the Orange Army” dedicates its achievement to the franchise’s passionate fan base.
The gesture became a talking point among cricket circles, with fans appreciating the youngster’s thoughtful tribute. Suryakumar’s decision to recreate the moment – to test Abhishek for another World Cup record – highlights the skipper’s playful leadership style and the comfortable equality between the two.
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Abhishek is yet to score in T20 World Cup 2026
While the coaching moment is heartwarming, it comes at a time when Abhishek’s batting form has come under considerable scrutiny. The 25-year-old left-hander took a hat-trick in the 2026 T20 World Cup against the USA, Pakistan and Netherlands with a 0-0 loss.
He missed India’s group match against Namibia in New Delhi due to a stomach infection that required hospital treatment, but returned for the Netherlands match, only for Aryan Dutt to score a third consecutive duck. This makes him the first Indian opener in T20 World Cup history to reach this coveted milestone.
Despite this rough patch, Abhishek remains the world’s No. 1 T20I batsman, amassing 1,297 runs in 40 T20I innings at an astonishing strike rate of 192.43. However, the pressure is on after he has been dismissed for ducks five times in his last seven international outings.
Virendra Sehwag’s advice to Abhishek: ‘Try playing some ball’
Former India all-rounder Virender Sehwag appreciated Abhishek’s fight and stressed that the youngster needs to adjust his approach rather than abandon his aggressive instincts.
“It was a ball to be hit but it missed. I’ve been in his shoes, I’ve made two or three zeroes, but it’s not that hard to come back because it’s just about the mindset.” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.
“It’s about his ball selection that he’s got wrong. The expectation on him is to score straight away and he can make mistakes. But he’s got to play some balls that don’t score runs, try to play some balls.” advised the legendary opener.
India begin their Super 8 campaign against South Africa on February 22 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. They will then face Zimbabwe in Chennai on February 26 and West Indies in Kolkata on March 1.
For Abhishek, the South Africa match presents an opportunity to silence the critics and repay the faith shown by the captain and the team management. Despite his setbacks, Suryakumar’s lighthearted gesture at training shows that the team’s support for the youngster remains unwavering.
