"Wo Hasta Nahi Hai": Abhishek Sharma Sums Up His 'Jugalbandi' With India Star

India opening batter Abhishek Sharma played an instrumental role as his team defeated West Indies by 14 runs in the third T20I on Sunday. Together, they put 108 runs for the second wicket as India put a total of 223 runs on the board. It wasn't the first time that Abhishek and Ishan had batted together in the middle, orchestrating an important partnership. In fact, they have been at the centre of some crucial knocks for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) too. As Abhishek arrived at the press conference, questions about his rapport with Ishan and their understanding were bound to be asked.

A reporter asked Abhishek about his 'jugalbandi' with Ishan, and the fact that the two always seem to be smiling while batting with each other. However, Abhishek was quick to point out that Ishan doesn't smile as easily while batting. In fact, the opener said that it is he who has to get Ishan to relax and smile a little bit in the middle.

"Nahi sir, Ishan pehli baat toh woh hasta nahi hai itni jaldi batting mein, toh mujhe usko hasana, thoda relax karna padta hai. Kyunki usko, woh zone mein rehna pasand hai jab woh batting karne aata hai. But I feel jaise hum dono ki bonding hai, jaise hum dono ki itni partnerships hui hain, even in IPL as well, so we understand each other pretty well. (No sir, first of all, Ishan does not laugh that easily while batting, so I have to make him laugh and relax him a bit. Because he likes to stay in his zone when he comes out to bat. But I feel given our bonding, and the many partnerships we have had, even in the IPL, we understand each other pretty well), he said.

Abhishek further revealed that he takes up the responsibility to ease pressure on Ishan whenever the latter comes out to bat in the middle.

"Whenever we go in, Ishan usually comes in when a wicket falls, there is obviously some pressure on him in the first three to four balls or first two balls, so I always want him to be released from that and just play the way he always plays. And the way he has been performing over the past year, we do not talk much about the conditions and everything when we are out there. We just enjoy each other's batting and compliment each other. That is it," Abhishek said in the press conference.

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