22 January,2026 08:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Ravi Shastri (Pic: File Pic)
Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, former cricketer Ravi Shastri feels that Team India will take off if opening batsman Abhishek Sharma continues his rich vein of form.
In the first T20I match against New Zealand, Abhishek smashed 84 runs off 35 deliveries, which was laced with five boundaries and eight maximums.
Speaking about him, the former cricketer stated that people will keep a tab on the left-handed batsman, considering his confidence level.
"Abhishek, without a shadow of a doubt. (He's the) No. 1 T20 batsman in the world (and is) in a rich vein of form. Last evening (on Wednesday), he took the game away from New Zealand. You've got to watch out for him because his confidence level is high," he said.
"He'll be backed by the home crowd and if he takes off, it means India take off," added Shastri.
He then explained the nature of being a coach of a national cricket team. Shastri said that players and coaches need to take criticism in a positive manner.
"I prefer criticism that is constructive (and) when I became a broadcaster, I said I've divorced the dressing room and I will speak on what I see. It doesn't matter if you were my colleague or you were my friend when I was playing the game," he said.
"But that's something you expect. In my tenure, there were good moments and there were rough moments. You just have to take it in your stride because you know there is another game coming up. One day you are in a pole position. The next day you are in a troll position. That can happen. But in a week, you can see all three. You can be in pole, troll, again pole," added the 63-year-old former cricketer.
The T20 World Cup 2026 is set to kick off from February 7. Team India is placed in Group A along with the teams such as Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and the United States of America (USA).
The "Men in Blue" will begin their global showpiece tournament by playing a clash against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
(With PTI Inputs)
