'Use bada achha lagta tha jab mai....': Shikhar Dhawan reflects on his special bond with Rohit Sharma

Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan has spoken about his strong partnership with captain Rohit Sharma. The duo, who first opened together in the 2013 Champions Trophy, have formed one of the most successful opening pairs in ODI cricket history. With a combined score of 5148 runs in 115 ODIs, they rank as the fourth most productive opening partnership in the format. Their contributions have been instrumental in India's numerous victories over the years.

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Dhawan opens up on bond with Rohit Sharma

In a recent appearance on Star Sports, Shikhar Dhawan was asked about his preferred opening partner. Without hesitation, Dhawan named Rohit Sharma, emphasising the special bond they share.

"My favourite opening partner is Rohit. Rohit ke saath to maine yaar 8–10 saal opening kari hai. Rohit ke saath mera bond bhi bahut strong hai (I have opened with him for 8-10 years, so I have a strong bond with him). He is a gem of a person. Uske saath bohot opening kari hai (Have opened a lot with him)," Dhawan said.

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Dhawan further shared a lighthearted anecdote about his partnership with Rohit Sharma. He revealed that the Indian captain enjoyed his singing, particularly one specific song, during their batting stints together.

"Usse bada achha lagta tha jab mai ek gana gaata tha pitch pe (he used to like it a lot whenever I sang one particular song), 'putt jattan de bulaonde bakre', " said Dhawan.

"So he would look at me and then sing the same song. It's one moment that repeated often. He remembered a couple of lines from the song, which he used to sing and then laugh," he added.

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Shikhar Dhawan's International career and partnership with Rohit Sharma

Shikhar Dhawan last represented India in December 2022, concluding a 14-year international career that spanned 34 Test matches, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is. He amassed 2315, 6793, and 1759 runs respectively across these formats. Currently, Dhawan is a key player for the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League. Renowned for his successful opening partnership with Rohit Sharma, Dhawan has shared numerous memorable moments with the Indian captain. Their combination, which began in the 2013 Champions Trophy, has yielded 5148 runs in 115 ODIs, placing them fourth on the list of most successful opening pairs in ODI cricket.

Opening pairs who have more runs than Indian duo of Shikhar Dhawan-Rohit Sharma in ODIs

Sourav Ganguly-Sachin Tendulkar: 6609 runs in 136 innings

Adam Gilchrist-MatthewHayden: 5372 runs in 114 innings

Gordon Greenidge-Desmond Haynes: 5150 runs 102 innings

Shikhar Dhawan-Rohit Sharma: 5148 runs 115 innings

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