India have prepared itself through the five-match T20I series against New Zealand at home, winning by a margin of 4-1 as they now gear up for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka through their only warm-up fixture against South Africa on February 04 at the DR DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. 

The eyes will be on their young opening batter, Abhishek Sharma, who, since his debut post the previous T20 World Cup 2024, has been their leading run-getter in the shortest format. The left-handed batter has smashed 1297 runs in just 37 innings at an average of 37.05 and a strike rate of 194.74, thanks to the help of eight half-centuries and two centuries at the best score of 135 runs.

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Abhishek, as a video goes viral on the social media platforms, was seen to take blessings from Mata Rani ahead of the event, where he will need to offer various strong starts to the team inside the first six overs of the innings as they look to defend their title from the previous edition of the tournament.

Abhishek Sharma takes blessings from Mata Rani ahead of T20 WC 2026

At home, Abhishek’s T20I numbers in this period are staggering, with 599 runs in 17 innings of the shortest format. The southpaw averages 37.43 in this period at a blistering strike rate of 213.16, shouldering on three half-centuries and one century at the best score of 135 runs.

Watch the video here: 

Abhishek Sharma taking blessings from Mata Rani ahead of the T20 World Cup. 🙏

Mata Rani Jagrata at Abhishek Sharma’s home. pic.twitter.com/suTbFUKmwC

— Sonu (@Cricket_live247) February 3, 2026

Whenever India has earned victory in the shortest format of the game during this period at home, Abhishek was tremendous with his attacking and aggressive skills, with no fear of being dismissed. The Punjab batter has bagged 558 runs in 14 T20I innings at an average of 42.92 and a strike rate of 216.27, thanks to three fifties and one century at his best score of 135 runs.

India will begin their campaign of the T20 World Cup 2026 against United States of America on February 07 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. They will later face Namibia on February 12 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. Their last two fixtures of the event will be against Pakistan and the Netherlands.