Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has rated Abhishek Sharma as India’s most crucial player in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. Sharma has been in top form in T20Is and he has been taking the game away from the opposition with his blistering batting.

India won the opening T20I against New Zealand by 48 runs at Nagpur on Wednesday. Sharma continued his rich form, scoring a blistering knock of 84 runs off just 35 balls with the help of five fours and eight sixes to help India post 238 runs on the board.

The pugnacious southpaw batter completed his fifty off just 22 balls, which is the quickest half-century for an Indian batter in T20Is against New Zealand.

Speaking at an event between ICC and Marriott Bonvoy, Ravi Shastri said, “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’ll be backed by the home crowd, and if he takes off, it means India take off.”

Shastri recalled Abhishek Sharma’s blistering century against England and rated it as the best T20I innings he has ever seen.

He added, “Remember when Abhishek got that 150 (135 off 54 balls; 7 fours, 13 sixes) against England at the Wankhede (Stadium) last year… We interviewed him after the game. I just put my hand on his shoulder, and I said, ‘Young man, that is the best T20 innings I’ve ever seen in international cricket.’ That kid is a proper star. When you know he’s batting, you turn the TV on.”

The second T20I between India and New Zealand will be played at Raipur on Friday.