Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun said that facing off against the likes of swashbuckling batters like Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan should be a challenge that opposition bowlers must cherish as well. They both wreaked havoc on New Zealand bowlers in the recently concluded home T20I series and are all set to become opening partners in the 2026 T20 World Cup campaign.

“I think it is fabulous, what these batters are doing at the top, especially Abhishek Sharma, the kind of starts he is giving India, the kind of form he is in. Somebody like Ishan Kishan, who is in great form, to be batting with him, I think they have all bases covered,” Bharat Arun told RevSportz.

“I think it is a great challenge for a bowler to be bowling to such batters, but if I were a bowler, I would say yes to bowling against them, it is a big, big challenge. There is an opportunity for me to become a hero. If a bowler is going to have this kind of a mindset, I’m sure he would do well,” he further added.

Team India had a strong build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup after winning the 2025 Asia Cup, followed by bilateral series wins over Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. Despite five members in the squad set to play their first-ever World Cup, Bharat Arun feels that there is a lot of experience in the team due to the Indian Premier League (IPL) over the years.

“I would think that this is probably a very, very experienced Indian team. Thanks to the IPL, there is a lot of experience, in terms of batting, bowling, and also preparation. New Zealand always punch above their weight, and to prepare against a team that always does well in ICC tournaments, it is great preparation,” Bharat Arun concluded.