Pathan noted that Sharma's struggles against off-spinners in recent matches stem from trying to dominate too early rather than settling in. 'His bat comes down from a high angle, and he is not looking to hit straight. He is trying to play across the wicket,' Pathan explained, adding that Sharma moves his front foot away to create room but bowlers aren't providing it.
The former all-rounder cautioned against drastic changes to Sharma's technique, advising instead to focus on getting off the mark before targeting fast bowlers. Pathan also praised fellow opener Ishan Kishan's tournament performance while noting his upcoming test against South Africa's bowling tactics.