Sandeep Patil, the 1983 World Cup winner, has raised concerns about how two of India’s young batting talents perform when playing outside their home country. Patil’s assessment centres on Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, both of whom have shown contrasting form across recent international series.
The criticism follows a difficult England tour in July 2026, where both players struggled against moving conditions. Abhishek scored 131 runs across five matches against England at an average of 26.20. Sooryavanshi managed just 42 runs in three innings against England, though he recovered significantly in the Zimbabwe series that followed, accumulating 151 runs in the same number of matches and earning Player of the Series honours. Abhishek was in abysmal form even during the Zimbabwe series but redeemed himself against Afghanistan, albeit at home.
“There is one thing I would like to say about their batting. Due respect to Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, we have seen that when they travelled outside India and the ball started moving around a little, they faced some difficulties. These two young players will also have to pay attention to that aspect and work on it. Lion at home and cat overseas. This shouldn’t happen,” Patil told SportsNext.
Patil’s concern over overseas struggles
Abhishek’s form took a dramatic turn during the Afghanistan series in September 2026. He smashed a 30-ball century in the third T20I on September 17, which stands as the fastest century against a Test-playing nation. He finished the series as Player of the Series after scoring 229 runs across three innings, including a half-century and a century, while India won the T20I series 3-0.
Patil did not treat Abhishek’s century against Afghanistan as evidence the problem had been solved. The former BCCI chief selector acknowledged the natural attacking instincts both players possess and their willingness to take risks in modern cricket. However, he maintained that overseas struggles remained a concern that required attention.
“I wasn’t surprised. Abhishek scored a century, and the Indian team scored 100 runs in six overs. I don’t know whether this is the first or last time it will happen, or when we’ll see it happen again,” Patil said.
“But you have to give them credit. You know, these young players in modern-day cricket have been given a license to kill, and they are using it absolutely the right way. Whether it’s Abhishek or Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, I would say it’s remarkable,” he added.
Patil recognised the quality and commitment both young players brought to their cricket. Their willingness to play with aggression from the first ball and their refusal to hold back demonstrated a modern approach that the former World Cup winner found commendable.
“They have tremendous power, quality, and skill, and they are making the right use of those skills. They don’t hold back. We always used to say, ‘Don’t play half-heartedly.’ They play with full commitment and go for their shots from the very first ball. You have to call it remarkable,” Sandeep said.
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