Chandigarh, Sep 22 (NationPress) - Former Indian cricketer Yograj Singh has heaped praise on Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma following their explosive opening partnership that led India to a six-wicket win over Pakistan during the Men's T20 Asia Cup Super Fours clash on Sunday.

On that eventful night, Abhishek scored a stunning 74 off just 39 balls while Gill contributed 47 off 28, establishing a remarkable 105-run partnership that marked India's highest successful chase against Pakistan in T20 history. Chasing a target of 172, India finished the game with seven balls remaining, maintaining their unbeaten streak in the tournament.

“Let me clarify something important. The way Shubman Gill and Abhishek are performing, even if the target is 250 runs, it can be chased down, but they need to bat for at least 15 overs,” Yograj told IANS. “If they can last for 15 overs, a target of 200 runs can easily turn into 300 or more. My advice to Abhishek, which Yuvraj has also emphasized, is to focus on playing for 12 to 15 overs, that’s crucial.”

Yograj highlighted the importance of their partnership for India’s batting strategy: “Just look at yesterday’s performance; we hit 100 runs in just 9 overs. By the 10th over, we were at 105 when Shubman got out, followed by Abhishek soon after. Their dependence on each other is evident. Shubman has been bowled twice by deliveries of the same line and length, which raises concerns he needs to address.”

In a reminder of the sport's demands, he stated: “No player can ever be greater than the game itself. Regardless of how impressive your scores are—be it 100, 200, 300, or 400—the mindset of a player must align with the game. Always strive to learn. The more you embrace this learner's mindset, the more successful you will become. I believe the Indian team will excel, but it shouldn't replicate what happened yesterday. When a score is set, the players should aim to play the full 20 overs.”