'If he takes off, India take off': Ravi Shastri, Kevin Pietersen backs Abhishek Sharma to dominate T20 World Cup | Cricket News - The Times of IndiaEditionININUSEnglishEnglishहिन्दीमराठीಕನ್ನಡதமிழ்বাংলাമലയാളംతెలుగుગુજરાતીWeatherSign InTOIToday's ePaperNewsSports NewsCricket News'If he takes off, India take off': Ravi Shastri, Kevin Pietersen backs Abhishek Sharma to dominate T20 World Cup'If he takes off, India take off': Ravi Shastri, Kevin Pietersen backs Abhishek Sharma to dominate T20 World CupGaurav Gupta / TNN / Jan 22, 2026, 20:21 ISTCommentsShareAA+Text SizeSmallMediumLarge India's Abhishek Sharma (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) Mumbai: Showering praise on India’s young T20 batting sensation Abhishek Sharma, former India head coach Ravi Shastri has made it clear how much India will bank on the attacking left-hander in the T20 World Cup next month by saying, “If he takes off, India take off.” Abhishek smashed 84 off just 35 balls, in a match-winning innings which was studded with eight sixes, to set up India’s 48-run win over New Zealand in the first T20I at Nagpur on Wednesday night. Arshdeep Singh press conference: on adapting to conditions, team roles & bowling plans | IND vs NZ 1st T20I Asked about which player he thought would dominate the 2026 T20 World Cup tournament, which is set to begin from February 7, Shastri replied at a promotional event of the International Cricket Council here on Thursday, “Abhishek, without a shadow of a doubt. (He’s) the No. 1 T20 batsman in the world and in a rich vein of form.
