Rain may have washed out the first T20I between India and Australia in Canberra, but it still offered plenty of moments to smile about — especially the sight of Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma sharing laughs on the sidelines. The two Punjab boys, who have grown up playing cricket together since childhood, are now opening the innings for India in the shortest format. Seeing them together in national colours, teasing each other and chatting during the rain delay, was a reminder of how special their journey has been.Watch: Gill and Abhishek’s bromance Before the rain took over, India got off to a brisk start after being asked to bat first. Abhishek began confidently, striking four boundaries and setting the tone early on. However, he couldn’t convert his start and fell for 19 off 14 balls, caught at mid-off while attempting to loft a slower delivery from Nathan Ellis.
Gill, on the other hand, looked composed and fluent, racing to 37 not out from just 20 deliveries. His partnership with captain Suryakumar Yadav added 62 runs off just 35 balls, and India were cruising at 97 for 1 in 9.4 overs when the heavens opened up again. For Suryakumar, this innings was more than just a fluent cameo. His 39 not out from 24 balls included two towering sixes, taking him to a special landmark — 150 sixes in T20 internationals. He became only the fifth player in history to achieve the feat, joining Rohit Sharma, Muhammad Waseem, Martin Guptill and Jos Buttler. While rain denied India a strong finish, the chemistry between Gill and Abhishek, combined with Suryakumar’s return to form, gave fans plenty of positives to take forward. The focus now shifts to Melbourne, where both sides will hope for better weather and a full game on Friday.
