Ravi Shastri believes India too will “take off” in subsequent month’s T20 World Cup if their explosive opener Abhishek Sharma fires, whereas Kevin Pietersen hailed the lefthander as a “correct star”.
In one other splendid exhibition of his ultra-explosive method, the world No. 1 Abhishek hammered a 35-ball 84 with eight sixes and 5 fours in India’s 48-run win within the opening T20I towards New Zealand in Nagpur on Wednesday.
“Abhishek, and not using a shadow of a doubt. (He’s the) No. 1 T20 batsman on the earth (and is) in a wealthy vein of kind,” Shastri stated when requested who could be essentially the most impactful participant within the upcoming T20 world showpiece starting on February 7.
“Final night (on Wednesday), he took the sport away from New Zealand. You’ve received to be careful for him as a result of his confidence degree is excessive.” “He’ll be backed by the house crowd and if he takes off, it means India take off,” he stated at an occasion to mark the launch of partnership between Marriott Bonvoy and the ICC.
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Shastri stated it’s essential for coaches and gamers to just accept criticism nevertheless it ought to in a optimistic vein.
“I desire criticism that’s constructive (and) once I turned a broadcaster, I stated I’ve divorced the dressing room and I’ll converse on what I see. It doesn’t matter in the event you had been my colleague otherwise you had been my pal once I was enjoying the sport,” he stated.
“However that’s one thing you anticipate. In my tenure, there have been good moments and there have been tough moments. You simply should take it in your stride as a result of there may be one other sport developing.” “In the future you’re in a pole place. The subsequent day you’re in a troll place. That may occur. However in per week, you may see all three. You might be in pole, troll, once more pole,” he added.
Pietersen backs Brevis
For Pietersen, it was South Africa’s Dewald Brevis’ identify that got here first on essentially the most impactful participant within the T20 World Cup.
“Dewald Brevis, for South Africa. He once more performed one other unimaginable innings final night time. A few days in the past, I used to be calling the sport in Johannesburg the place his workforce, the Pretoria Capitals, led by (Sourav) Ganguly, was struggling,” he stated.
“They had been 7/5 (towards Joburg Tremendous Kings) and Brevis went (in) and batted for 15 overs they usually received to a successful complete of 140 or 150 (143/6).” Pietersen stated Brevis confirmed he’s greater than a one-trick pony of solely attempting to hit sixes.
“(Now) that’s one thing Brevis has all the time come beneath criticism for, that he’s only a one-trick pony. He stands there, and he simply tries to hit six after six after six. I stated on commentary, that might be the making of Brevis, so from that perspective, he’s in that (checklist) simply because I’m seeing him so much in the meanwhile,” Pietersen stated.
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Nonetheless, the nice England batter returned to Abhishek, terming him a “correct star”.
“Bear in mind when Abhishek received that 150 (135 off 54 balls; 7 fours, 13 sixes) towards England on the Wankhede (Stadium) final yr… We interviewed him after the sport.
“I simply put my hand on his shoulder and I stated, ‘younger man, that’s the finest T20 innings I’ve ever seen in worldwide cricket’. That child is a correct star,” he stated.
Pietersen was additionally conscious of Abhishek’s fireworks within the opening T20I towards the Kiwis.
“When he’s batting, you flip the TV on,” he added.
Pietersen, nonetheless, stated it will likely be a “very huge shout” to say England would win the T20 World Cup given how the facet is enjoying.
“The best way England is enjoying, that’s a really huge shout,” he stated.
Revealed on Jan 22, 2026