Ahead of India vs Pakistan clash, Abhishek Sharma turns mentor for friend Shubman Gill

TimesofIndia.com in Dubai:Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma have been inseparable during the Asia Cup. They get off the bus together, share the same nets, train side by side, and walk back together after practice.True to their nature, Gill keeps a straight face while Abhishek teases his friend whenever a fan asks India’s vice-captain for an autograph. "Aapko prince ke saath photo leni hai (You want to click a photo with the prince)," he joked when a fan asked for a picture last week at the ICC Cricket Academy in Dubai.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!For two cricketers who have opened together since their U-12 days, they have come a long way.

The duo are now designated openers for Team India in this Asia Cup. Abhishek has provided India with lightning starts in all three league matches, scoring 99 runs at a blistering strike rate of 225. Gill, on the other hand, has managed only 35 runs in three group matches.True friends are those who stand by your side when the going gets tough. On Saturday at the ICC Cricket Academy in Dubai, a day before the highly anticipated clash, Abhishek -- like a true friend -- turned mentor for Shubman. Only three Indian players -- Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy -- turned up for the optional nets with the support staff led by coach Gautam Gambhir.

Gill batted for an hour and a half, first tested by Abhishek’s left-arm spin. Abhishek suggested Gill to try the inside-out lofted shot over extra cover. Gill attempted sweeps and switch-hits, but with little success against Abhishek’s flat deliveries.Abhishek then specifically asked side-arm thrower Nuwan Seneviratne to bowl at off and middle stumps to sharpen Gill’s responses. He even roped in Varun Chakravarthy, who was experimenting in an empty net, to test Gill’s temperament.

Chakravarthy repeatedly challenged India’s vice-captain, especially when Gill tried to charge down the pitch.

An hour later, Abhishek padded up and started hammering the net bowlers with ease. Meanwhile, Gill sat with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, who kept offering inputs. After a while, Abhishek -- fresh from tonking the bowlers -- joined the conversation.The duo then diligently packed their gear and left the venue together.For India to thrive against Pakistan, they will need Gill’s class and Abhishek’s firepower. If Saturday’s nets were anything to go by, the duo’s friendship might just blossom into the partnership India needs the most under Dubai's ring of fire.