Ravi Shastri on Abhishek Sharma: Abhishek Sharma snatched the match from New Zealand, will perform tremendously in T20 World Cup, the veteran told the Indian young opener as X factor
Mumbai. Former Indian coach Ravi Shastri believes that if explosive opener Abhishek Sharma performs well in next month’s T20 World Cup, India will also do wonders, while Kevin Pietersen described the left-handed player as a ‘true star’. World number one batsman (T20 ranking) Abhishek scored 84 runs with the help of eight sixes and five fours in 35 balls in India’s 48-run win against New Zealand in the first T20 International in Nagpur on Wednesday.
When Shastri was asked who would be the most influential player in the T20 World Cup starting from February 7, he said, ‘Without any doubt, Abhishek. He is the world number one T20 batsman and is in great form. He said, ‘Yesterday evening (Wednesday) they snatched the match from New Zealand. His confidence level is at its peak.
T20 World Cup 2026 will be organized in India and Sri Lanka.
Speaking at an event to mark the launch of the partnership between Marriott Bonvoy and the International Cricket Council (ICC), Shastri said, ‘He will get the support of the home crowd and if he does wonders, it means India will also do wonders.’ Shastri said that it is important for coaches and players to accept criticism but it should be in a positive manner.
He said, ‘I like criticism that is constructive. And when I became a ‘broadcaster’ I said that I have severed ties with the dressing room and I will say only what I see. It doesn’t matter whether you were my teammate or my friend when I was playing. But it’s something you expect. There were good moments as well as difficult moments during my tenure. You just have to accept it because you know the next game is coming.
He said, ‘One day you are at the top. The next day you are being trolled. could be possible. But in a week, you can see all three. You can be on top, get trolled, be on top again. For Pietersen, the name of South Africa’s Dewald Brewis first came up as the most influential player in the T20 World Cup. He said, ‘Dewald Brevis for South Africa. He again played another brilliant innings last night. A few days ago I was commentating a match in Johannesburg, where his team Pretoria Capitals was in trouble.
Pietersen said, ‘But Brevis came and batted for 15 overs and they reached the target of victory.’ He said that Brewis showed that he is not just a player who hits sixes. However, Pietersen called Abhishek a ‘true star’. He said, ‘Remember when Abhishek scored that 150 runs (135 runs in 54 balls, seven fours, 13 sixes) against England at Wankhede (Stadium) last year. We interviewed him after the match. He said, ‘I just put my hand on his shoulder and said, ‘This is the best T20 innings I have ever seen in international cricket.’ ‘That boy is a true star.’
