Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has thrown his weight firmly behind Abhishek Sharma, tipping the explosive left-hander as the player to watch at the upcoming T20 World Cup. Speaking at an ICC event in Mumbai, Shastri praised Abhishek’s current form and fearless mindset, stating that the young opener’s confidence makes him one of the most dangerous batters in world cricket.
Abhishek underlined Shastri’s words with a breathtaking performance earlier this week in Nagpur, where he dismantled New Zealand’s bowling attack with a scintillating 84 off just 35 deliveries.
Batting alongside captain Suryakumar Yadav, the duo stitched together a 99-run partnership in only 47 balls, completely shifting the momentum in India’s favour and laying the foundation for a massive total of 238. The innings showcased Abhishek’s clean hitting, sharp game awareness, and ability to take the game away from the opposition inside the powerplay.
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“Abhishek, without a shadow of a doubt,” Ravi Shastri said when asked to name the most impactful player at the 2026 T20 World Cup. “He is in a rich vein of form. What we saw last evening was him taking the game away from New Zealand. His confidence is sky-high, and when he gets going, India gets going.”
Abhishek’s rapid rise has been one of Indian cricket’s most exciting stories in recent times. He first caught the nation’s attention with a stellar IPL 2024 season, where his aggressive approach at the top stood out. That form earned him a national call-up after the T20 World Cup, and he made an immediate impression by scoring a century against Zimbabwe on debut.
Since then, Abhishek has become a key part of India’s T20 setup, particularly in maximising the powerplay. His ability to dominate spinners early in the innings has allowed India to post several intimidating totals above 230, while also giving freedom to the middle order during tougher phases.
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With India set to open their T20 World Cup campaign on February 7, expectations around Abhishek Sharma are sky-high. Backed by home conditions and unwavering support from the team management, he could well be the X-factor in India’s title push.
