Not Jasprit Bumrah or Shubman Gill, ex-India opener picks this star as biggest X-factor for Suryakumar Yadav-led side in T20 World Cup 2026

Former India opener Sadagoppan Ramesh lavished praise on destructive opener Abhishek Sharma for his fearless batting in the T20Is. He believes that young Abhishek will be India's X factor in the T20 World Cup 2026, which will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Sadagoppan Ramesh for India X Factor in T20 World Cup 2025

Abhishek, who played a crucial role for India in their Asia Cup 2025 triumph, is currently in Australia, where he scored 140 runs, including one half-century in four T20Is against Australia. Abhishek is the highest run-getter, and India vice-captain Shubman Gill is second as the Suryakumar Yadav-led side are leading 2-1, as the first clash was washed out due to rain.

"Abhishek Sharma will be the biggest X-factor for India in the T20 World Cup" said Sadagoppan Ramesh on his YouTube channel.

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Abhishek Sharma's T20I career

Abhishek, who made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in 2024, has played 28 matches where he amassed 989 runs, including two centuries and six half-centuries, with a high score of 135 runs at an average of 36.62.

T20 World Cup 2026 venues

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly shortlisted Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai as five venues for the T20 World Cup 2026, and the final of the marquee event will take place at iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad if Pakistan fails to qualify. Each venue in India will likely get six games. Matches featuring Pakistan will take place in Sri Lanka, but there is no clarity over which venues those will be.