Not Jasprit Bumrah! Shane Watson backs Hardik Pandya to become Player of the Tournament in T20 World Cup 2026

Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson shared his thoughts on the top scorer and the most dangerous batter from India during the T20 World Cup 2026. Watson said that India have several batters, including Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya, who can dominate the World Cup.

India are set to face Namibia in their second Group A fixture at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on February 12. The Men in Blue started their campaign on a positive note, securing a 29-run victory over the USA at the Wankhede Stadium. They will look to continue their winning momentum in the upcoming match.

Don’t Be Surprised If Hardik Pandya Becomes Man of the Tournament - Shane Watson

In a conversation with Sportsyaari, Shane Watson backed Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya to make an impact in the World Cup. The former all-rounder stated that Pandya could finish as the Man of the Tournament.

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“There are so many dangerous batters for India. Obviously, Abhishek Sharma has been doing incredibly well. Suryakumar Yadav continues to do amazingly well," Shane Watson said.

"I would be very surprised if Hardik Pandya does not set this T20 World Cup alight. He is in incredible form at the moment, his body is holding up beautifully, so don’t be surprised if he becomes Man of the Tournament,” he added.

🚨 SPORTS YAARI WORLD EXCLUSIVE🚨
India’s most dangerous batter? Tough call - Abhishek, SKY are flying, but watch out for Hardik Pandya. In top form, could light up the T20 WC.” - Shane Watson pic.twitter.com/AZeiqeBLMH

— Sports Yaari (@YaariSports) February 11, 2026

Virat Kohli Just Continues to Be an Absolute Run Machine - Shane Watson

Shane Watson praised Virat Kohli for his remarkable consistency, saying the Indian star continues to score heavily and dominate one-day cricket. Watson described Kohli as the master of the format.

“Yeah, I know. He just continues to be an absolute run machine. In one-day cricket, there’s no question that he is the master of the format. His ability to score runs consistently, score them quickly, and do it so often makes him truly something else,” Watson said.

🚨WORLD EXCLUSIVE
Shane Watson on SPORTS YAARI:
“VIRAT KOHLI IS A RUN MACHINE” pic.twitter.com/aKs3V0IqBs

— Sports Yaari (@YaariSports) February 11, 2026

Virat Kohli Set to Return in IPL 2026 After Strong ODI Form

Virat Kohli is not playing in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026. He retired from T20 internationals after India won the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they defeated South Africa in the final to lift the title.

Kohli last played competitive cricket in the ODI series against New Zealand in January. Although India lost the series 1-2, he was outstanding with the bat, scoring 240 runs in three innings at an average of 80.00 and a strike rate of 105.26, including one half-century and one century.

In ODIs overall, Kohli has played 311 matches and scored 14,797 runs in 299 innings at an average of 58.71 and a strike rate of 93.82. His record includes 77 fifties, 54 hundreds, and a highest score of 183.

Kohli will next be seen in action in IPL 2026, which begins on March 26. He will continue to represent Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who won their first IPL title in 2025 after beating Punjab Kings (PBKS) under the leadership of Rajat Patidar.

Also read: Shamar Joseph removed from Islamabad United’s PSL 2026 squad as rape allegations surface against pacer