Ishant Sharma Recalls Banter With Virat Kohli Before Maiden Test Fifty: 'Abbey Jaa Naa...'

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-08-31 15:13:27 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-06-25 05:58:34

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During the India v West Indies match in 2019, lanky pacer Ishant Sharma scored a crucial maiden Test fifty that helped lay the foundation for an Indian win. Recalling the milestone moment, Sharma has shared anecdotes from the match, including playful banter with skipper Virat Kohli and the making of a crucial partnership with Ajinkya Rahane that helped seal the game.

Sharma remembers the words of encouragement from Kohli, who was standing at first slip when Sharma entered the 40s for the first time in his career, "Abbey jaa naa, shaant ho jaa yar... (just keep calm and stay quiet, brother...) and the moment I scored my first run after that, I shouted 'yeaaab, abbey jaa raha hu (yes, I am doing it)'". The bowler reveals that he was nervous while trying to get his maiden fifty, but the confidence shown in him by the skipper motivated him to succeed.

Sharma went on to score 51 off 93 deliveries, paving the way for a crucial 72-run partnership with Rahane, helping India defeat the visitors by an innings and 92 runs. "Virat bhai always encouraged me and said that you have the ability to score runs. Just hang around and see what happens... And once I started getting a few boundaries, I also gained confidence," Sharma said.

This testimony underscores the importance of teamwork, perseverance, and confidence in building a successful career, even in the face of adversity.

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