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India's destructive opener Abhishek Sharma's popularity has been hard to miss, and even his teammates have noticed it. Days after India's T20 World Cup 2026 triumph, wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson joked that there was a time when some players in the Indian team felt a little jealous because of the massive attention Abhishek was getting from fans.
Sanju Samson on Abhishek Sharma's popularity
Samson said that before the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, wherever the team travelled, crowds seemed to gather mainly to see Abhishek. According to him, young fans in particular were excited to catch a glimpse of the rising star.
“Earlier the boys used to get jealous because of the cheers for Abhishek. It was Abhishek, Abhishek everywhere. We were like, do people only see him or what?” Samson said with a laugh during the India Today Conclave.
Samson also shared a light-hearted moment where he teased Abhishek about his fame. He joked that Abhishek should get married soon so the spotlight could shift a little and the rest of the players might get some attention too.
“But yes, he is the superstar of the team now. Get married soon, bhai,” he added jokingly.
Abhishek Sharma's T20 World Cup performance
Notably, Abhishek had a forgettable outing in the T20 World Cup 2026 matches before he gained rhythm in the final. The southpaw scored 52 runs in 21 balls in the title decider against New Zealand. In total, Abhishek scored 141 runs in the marquee event, including two half-centuries.
Sanju Samson's T20 World Cup 2026 performance
On the other hand, Sanju Samson, who was included in India's playing XI after missing three league stage matches, played a crucial role in the T20 World Cup win. He scored 321 runs, including some of the finest performances in the three most crucial matches. Samson nearly scored centuries against West Indies (Super 8), England (semi-final), and New Zealand (final), ultimately being named Player of the Tournament.
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