"It hurts": Abhishek Sharma reacts after difficult Zimbabwe tour

India completed a clean sweep of Zimbabwe in their recent T20I series, a result that included Vaibhav Sooryavanshi being named Player of the Series in a performance described as historic. Abhishek Sharma, who opened alongside Sooryavanshi, broke his silence after the tour on social media, writing "It hurts" and conveying his disappointment.

The T20I assignment saw India dominant across the fixtures while Vaibhav Sooryavanshi collected the Player of the Series honour, a milestone noted in coverage of the tour. Sharma, by contrast, endured a run of low scores that stood out amid the team's success. His struggles with the bat and the contrast with his opening partner were central to the post-series discussion. The left-hander’s public reaction came after the conclusion of the matches and has focused attention on the need for him to rediscover earlier form.

Sooryavanshi’s recognition as Player of the Series was highlighted repeatedly following the conclusion of the tour, with reports labelling the achievement historic. His contributions at the top of the order were pivotal to India’s series victory, and the award underscored his influence across the games. That individual success added context to the wider narrative of the series and framed comparisons between the two openers.

Sharma’s sequence of low scores contrasted sharply with his partner’s tournament and became a prominent talking point. Those results have been described simply as a difficult run, with observers noting the gap between his recent output and the standards he has shown previously. The phrase "It hurts," posted by Sharma, conveyed the personal impact of that slump and the frustration at being unable to deliver more for the team during the tour.

The social media message from Sharma arrived in the immediate aftermath of the series and served as his first public comment following the fixtures. It reflected his own dissatisfaction and acknowledged the pressure that accompanies inconsistent returns at the top of the order. There was no additional detail in the post beyond the expression of hurt and disappointment.

Sharma now faces the task of regaining the batting form that had previously established him as a reliable opening option. The contrast between his night to night scores and Sooryavanshi’s series haul leaves selection and form questions to be resolved in forthcoming opportunities. The public acknowledgement of his struggle, summed up by "It hurts," sets the tone for what supporters and selectors will watch next.