India opener Abhishek Sharma alongside teammate and vice-captain Axar Patel were spotted at the iconic Marundeeswarar Temple in Chennai. The visit comes a day before the crunch IND vs ZIM T20 WC26 clash at the Chepauk. For both Abhishek & Axar, the campaign hasn’t gone as per plan and they seek divine blessings as India aim to make a push for the semis.
The Marundeeswarar Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is revered as a place of healing — the name “Marundeeswarar” means “Lord of Medicines.” Devotees pray here seeking relief from ailments and well-being, and the temple is especially crowded on Pradosham and Maha Shivaratri. It remains one of Chennai’s most spiritually significant landmarks.
The visit from Abhishek Sharma in particular is significant. The left-hander has had a turbulent campaign in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. He was hospitalised with a stomach infection and missed a group stage against Namibia. In the four other games he has featured, he has scored three ducks and a score of 14 in the defeat to South Africa.
With India’s semi-final hopes hanging by a thread, Abhishek has sought blessings from the healing gods to return back to form. The left-hander had held a ‘jagrata’ at his home before joining up with the T20 World Cup squad. However, a tumultuous time seems to have forced him to seek divine help.
India need to win their remaining two games starting with the clash against Zimbabwe in Chennai on Thursday. The Men in Blue will also be vary of their net run rate with their 76-run loss to South Africa putting a major dent in their chances for a semi-final qualification.
