Michael Klinger said that Team India's swashbuckling opening batsman Abhishek Sharma is fearless, and his batting is amazing to watch. Team India is placed in Group A of the T20 World Cup 2026 along with teams such as Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and the United States of America (USA)
Team India players celebrate a wicket during the match (Pic: X/@BCCI)
Ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, former Australian cricketer Michael Klinger said that the recent T20I series against New Zealand showed why Team India is going to be extremely tough to beat in the marquee event.
"With the form they're in and what I saw recently against New Zealand, India are going to be extremely difficult to beat. A team will probably have to catch them on a bad night in a final to beat them," he told PTI.
He also said that Team India's swashbuckling opening batsman Abhishek Sharma is fearless, and his batting is amazing to watch.
"Abhishek Sharma is probably my new favourite player. I've been watching him for a while now. Opening with Travis Head in the IPL and now doing it at international level, he's fearless and amazing to watch," said the former cricketer.
He also feels that Ishan Kishan, who is enjoying his rich vein of form, is probably pushing his name for India's playing XI for the mega event.
"Ishan Kishan has come back in fantastic form and is certainly putting a case forward to start in the XI at the World Cup," said Klinger.
The former cricketer also said that the "Men in Blue" may face tough competition against teams such as Australia and South Africa.
"Australia and South Africa are strong teams. South Africa, coming off a lot of T20 cricket recently, will be dangerous as well," said the 45-year-old former cricketer.
T20 World Cup 2026: Team India's schedule
Team India is placed in Group A of the T20 World Cup 2026 along with teams such as Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and the United States of America (USA). They will begin their global showpiece campaign by playing a clash against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
They will then lock horns with Namibia on February 12 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The much-anticipated clash of the tournament between arch-rivals, India and Pakistan, is scheduled to be played on February 15 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.
India will then conclude its group stage matches by playing a game against the Netherlands on February 18 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
(With PTI Inputs)
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