India’s star opening batter, Abhishek Sharma, got the trust from the team management to be part of the entire T20 World Cup 2026 despite starting the event with three successive ducks. And in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the left-handed batter smashed a fine knock of 52 runs in just 21 balls, smashing six fours and three sixes. 

The former Australia wicket-keeper batter, Brad Haddin, was in full praise for the southpaw as he playfully called the star youngster ‘Rascal.’ In the first seven innings, he scored 89 runs, including a small return of 15 runs against South Africa in the Super 8 stage of the competition in Ahmedabad.

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“I'm a huge fan of Abhishek, and there was a lot of talk about his position throughout the tournament. Got a few ducks in a row in the pool games, and all of a sudden, you think he is under pressure, but there are the guys you want in the big moments, because they are rascals and they walk into the fire.” Haddin expressed on the Willow Talk Cricket podcast.

Brad Haddin’s rascal remark on Abhishek Sharma goes viral

Haddin also lauded the Blackcaps side, under the leadership of Mitchell Santner, for reaching yet another final of the ICC tournaments. But he pointed out that their repeated struggles at the hurdle took them down in the process. New Zealand was restricted to 159 runs in reply to India’s 255 runs during the final of the T20 World Cup 2026.

“That is what Abhishek does, he puts pressure on the opposition, and the way that he went out in that final set up the game. New Zealand has done a good job again to get to a final. I thought New Zealand was really red hot for the final.” Haddin addressed.

“The way Finn Allen and Tim Seifert were batting. I thought they were in one of those tournament modes where everything is going their way. But the last hurdle [they failed to cross]. The classier team won, didn't it?” The former wicket-keeper batter highlighted.