Du Plessis backs Abhishek to play "an amazing innings" during T20 World Cup, urges batter to shut out outside noise
Feb 25, 2026
For three matches in this T20 World Cup during the group stage, the world waited for Abhishek, the top-ranked T20I batter, to open his run tally. When he finally did it with a four against South Africa, he did not look anywhere close to his dominant, authoritative self. While waiting for the ball to come in his hitting arc and taking his time, he swung his bat at almost every opportunity possible with hopes of landing a meaty hit towards the boundary, but he could score just a 12-ball 15. The clash against Zimbabwe will be a massive chance for him to make an impact, the same opposition against whom he cracked his first-ever international ton during his second T20I match back in 2024.