Sahaj Dhawan, opener for the Amritsar Soormas, has revealed that India all-rounder Abhishek Sharma played a pivotal off-field role in the team's Sher-E-Punjab T20 League title triumph, urging every player to express themselves freely and take on the bowlers without hesitation. The Soormas clinched the league title on Sunday at the I.S. Bindra Stadium in Mohali, defeating the Ludhiana Lions by eight wickets.

Abhishek Sharma's Dressing Room Influence

Dhawan was candid about how sharing a dressing room with a player of Abhishek's calibre shaped the team's collective mindset. 'When you share the dressing room with a player like Abhishek Sharma, you obviously learn a lot. He helped create an atmosphere where everyone was encouraged to express themselves and play with an open mind. There were no second thoughts; the message was to go out and play our shots and take on the bowlers,' Dhawan said.

That philosophy of fearless cricket proved to be the cornerstone of Amritsar's campaign, with the team consistently backing aggressive intent over cautious accumulation throughout the tournament.

Final-Day Conditions and Tactical Call

The title decider was played under challenging conditions, with rain having affected the pitch ahead of the match. Dhawan noted that winning the toss proved crucial in those circumstances. 'The wicket was a little damp because it had rained earlier in the day. Winning the toss was a plus point for us, so our plan was to restrict them to a manageable total,' he stated.

Amritsar's bowlers executed that plan effectively, keeping the Ludhiana Lions to a total that left the chase well within reach for the Soormas' batting line-up.

Composure Under Pressure in the Chase

The run chase was not without its anxious moments. Early wickets — the dismissals of Naman and Jashan — briefly shifted momentum toward Ludhiana, but Dhawan said clear messaging from the dressing room kept the team calm. 'When we went out to bat, my plan was to play with an open mind. I got a few boundaries early on, but then Naman and Jashan got out. The message from the dressing room was to stay till the end. They told us to take our time. We just had to complete the match, and thankfully, we did that and got the win,' he added.

Dhawan and Naman Dhir: A Bond Forged in Faridkot

Beyond the tactical execution, Dhawan's partnership with Naman Dhir carries a personal depth that stretches back well before the Sher-E-Punjab T20 stage. Both cricketers hail from Faridkot and have been playing together since their Under-14 days. 'First of all, Naman is my brother. We started playing cricket together when we were in the Under-14 age group. He is from Faridkot and I am also from there, so our bonding is very good,' Dhawan said.

That long-standing familiarity has translated into an on-field relationship where honest feedback flows naturally. 'He is like my big brother. Even during matches, he would tell me if I was doing something wrong, like asking why I was playing a certain shot from outside. We have been playing together for a long time, so that relationship makes our bonding special,' Dhawan concluded.

With the Soormas' title secured, the spotlight now turns to how several of these players carry this form into upcoming domestic and franchise competitions.