Brisbane, November 9 (Udaipur Kiran) — India’s young opener Abhishek Sharma heaped praise on his batting partner Shubman Gill after their explosive starts in the T20 series against Australia, humorously describing their pairing as “fire and fire” instead of “fire and ice.”

Following India’s 2–1 series victory, captain Suryakumar Yadav lauded the Gill–Abhishek duo for their consistent performances at the top of the order. He said, “Whenever Abhishek and Shubman bat together, they bring smiles to everyone’s faces. They are learning how to adapt to different match situations and read conditions effectively.”

In the rain-affected fifth T20I, India reached 52 for no loss in just 4.5 overs before play was halted. Gill scored a quick 29 off 16 balls, while Abhishek added 23 off 13 deliveries, giving India yet another flying start.

When a journalist compared the pair to “fire and ice,” Abhishek interrupted with a smile and said, “Sir, we’re not fire and ice — we’re fire and fire. Today there was no ice, only fire!”

Speaking about his strong on-field chemistry with Gill, Abhishek added, “I know his game well — which bowlers he targets — and he knows mine. Sometimes he tells me to play a few balls carefully and then go for a particular shot. We’ve been roommates since childhood, and that understanding helps us a lot.”

Acknowledging that opponents are now studying his game closely, Abhishek said he is working on improving his shot selection and adapting better to different conditions. “The more I play for India, the better I’ll get at reading pitches and planning my innings accordingly,” he said.

Skipper Suryakumar also expressed pride in leading such a talented side. “I feel lucky to have players with diverse skills. Everyone enjoys playing together, and our bond has grown stronger over the past six to eight months. The young bowlers are learning a lot from Boom (Jasprit Bumrah),” he added.