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Abhishek Sharma ‘star’ in the making, could top runs chart in T20 World Cup: Ponting

Abhishek Sharma ‘star’ in the making, could top runs chart in T20 World Cup: Ponting

Bavana Guntha
February 2, 2026

Legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting has personally backed India opener Abhishek Sharma as a potential match-winner at the upcoming T20 World Cup , even suggesting he could emerge as the tournament’s leading run-scorer .

Speaking in the latest edition of The ICC Review , Ponting said: “He's a star. I think it's (lack of experience) a real positive. He can be the leading run-scorer and potentially the Player of the Tournament. That makes India even harder to beat.”

The 25-year-old, making his maiden T20 World Cup appearance starting February 7, has been in blistering form . In the recent five-match T20I series against New Zealand , Abhishek scored 182 runs , including a match-winning 75 , helping India clinch the series. His consistent performances over the past year have seen him climb to the No.1 spot in the ICC T20I rankings for batsmen , cementing his place as one of the world’s premier short-format hitters.

Ponting, who first coached Abhishek at Delhi Capitals in the IPL , recalled spotting his talent as a teenager. “He debuted with me at 17 and made an immediate impact. He hit his first ball for four or six straight over the bowler’s head with that classical straight bat and held the pose. Even then, you could see there was something extra special.”

The Australian added that he had urged the franchise to retain the youngster, convinced of his long-term potential. “We ended up trading him away from Delhi, but I pleaded and pleaded, saying there's an absolute superstar in the making here. And that’s what it’s turned out to be. I have really high hopes for him this time.”

In 37 T20Is, Abhishek has already scored 1,267 runs at a strike rate of 194.92 , including two hundreds and eight fifties , showcasing the aggressive batting style that has made him India’s rising star in the shortest format.

With Ponting’s endorsement and recent performances under his belt, all eyes will be on Abhishek Sharma as India aim for glory at the T20 World Cup .