Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin believes India’s triumph in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 was built on one crucial factor — peaking at the right moment. According to Haddin, India’s biggest stars stepped up when it mattered the most, particularly Abhishek Sharma and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
Abhishek endured a difficult start to the tournament. The aggressive opener managed just 89 runs across seven matches and even suffered three consecutive ducks during the group stage, raising questions about his place in the playing XI.
However, when the pressure was at its highest, the young batter delivered a stunning turnaround in the final. Facing the New Zealand national cricket team, Abhishek unleashed a breathtaking counterattack, smashing a record 18-ball half-century.
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His explosive start laid the foundation for India’s innings as he stitched together a crucial 92-run opening partnership with Sanju Samson, putting the opposition under immediate pressure. Brad Haddin praised the fearless approach shown by the young batter in the biggest game of the tournament.
“I think the one thing with this Indian team is that tournament play is about understanding the right time to peak, and that is exactly what India did in the final,” Haddin said while speaking on the Willow Talk Cricket podcast.
“I am a huge fan of Abhishek. There was a lot of talk about his position throughout the tournament after those ducks, but they are the players you want in big moments because they walk into the fire,” he added.
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India’s dominance was sealed in the second innings by Bumrah, who delivered a match-winning spell. The fast bowler struck with his very first delivery, removing Rachin Ravindra, before dismantling the middle and lower order to finish with outstanding figures of 4/15. Bumrah ended the tournament as the joint-leading wicket-taker alongside Varun Chakravarthy, while Abhishek retained his No.1 ranking in T20Is despite a mixed campaign overall.
