“I won’t take that away at the Wankhede,” Shastri said. “He’s done well in the past. He’s got some big hundreds there and very quick hundreds. I’ll persist with him because there’s enough firepower in that batting.”
Ponting emphasised the impact Abhishek can have on his day, while also highlighting India’s enviable depth, in case he doesn’t.
In Abhishek’s slump, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Kishan, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya have all contributed with over 150 runs in the tournament to their name.
“We know on his day, he’s an out-and-out match-winner,” Ponting said. “But that’s the hard thing with this Indian side as well. And if you were to leave him out and you bring Rinku in, then you’ve got another match-winner coming into your side as well.
“I like the look of their top order the other day, the way that it was left-hand, right-hand openers, Kishan in at number three, who’s a very dangerous player in himself. I’d be keeping a really close eye on the way Abhishek’s going about his training.”