India’s opener Abhishek Sharma has publicly criticized IndiGo Airlines, accusing the staff at Delhi airport of poor management that led to him missing his flight. The 24-year-old cricketer shared his frustration in a strongly worded statement on Instagram, where he described the incident and called it his worst airline experience to date.
Allegations Against IndiGo Staff
Abhishek stated that he arrived on time at the designated check-in counter but was redirected to another counter unnecessarily. Upon reaching the new counter, he was informed that check-in had already closed, leaving him unable to board his flight.
The cricketer specifically named a counter manager, Ms. Sushmita Mittal, and criticized her conduct. In his Instagram story, Abhishek wrote:
“I had the worst experience with IndiGo at Delhi airport, and the behaviour of staff, especially counter manager Ms. Sushmita Mittal, was absolutely unacceptable. I arrived on time at the correct counter, but they redirected me unnecessarily to another counter, only to tell me later that check-in was closed, making me miss my flight. I only had a one-day holiday, which has now been completely ruined. To make it even worse, they are offering no further helpful assistance. This is by far the worst airline experience and worst staff management I’ve ever had.”
Stellar Domestic Form Ahead of National Comeback
Abhishek’s frustrations off the field come amid a remarkable run of form in domestic cricket. Representing Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the opener scored over 50 in four consecutive matches. His standout performances included:
66 off 54 balls against Mumbai
A blistering 170 off 96 balls as part of a 298-run opening partnership with Prabhsimran Singh against Saurashtra
93 off 72 balls against Hyderabad
51 off 62 balls against Puducherry
Before the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Abhishek also impressed in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Punjab.
Return to India Colours
Abhishek has already played 12 T20Is for India, amassing 256 runs at a strike rate of 171.18, including a century and a fifty. The left-handed batter is set to make his return to the Indian team in the upcoming three-match T20I series against England at home.
While Abhishek’s on-field exploits continue to draw praise, his recent experience with IndiGo Airlines sheds light on the challenges faced by travelers, even those in the public eye.
