Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant reflected on his discussion with Rohit Sharma during the third anniversary of India’s memorable triumph against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane in 2021.
India achieved a remarkable victory by successfully chasing 328 on the last day, creating one of cricket’s most unforgettable underdog narratives. Pant played a crucial role, showcasing his batting prowess with a brilliant, unbeaten 89 off 138 deliveries against a strong Australian bowling lineup.
Pant shared with Star Sports that he wasn’t as elated as the other Indian players, prompting a conversation with Rohit Sharma.
“I remember what Rohit Sharma said. A lot of people told me special things, but Rohit’s words, I remember it well. He was seeing my reaction. Everybody was happy, but he was not seeing me as excited as everyone else. He told me ‘I don’t think you realise what you have done’,” Pant said.
“I told him ‘yeah, we won a match, we won a series here for the 2nd time. He told me ‘when you quit cricket, you will understand the importance of this innings because you don’t know what you have done. Then I realised what I had done,” he added.
The triumph concluded Australia’s 32-year undefeated run in Tests at the Gabba and marked India’s consecutive Test series victories Down Under.
India’s series win against Australia at the Gabba is celebrated not just for the result but for the team’s resilience. Despite a tough start in Adelaide, where they were bowled out for 36, India bounced back to win the series 2-1, even with key players missing in the following games. It’s a remarkable chapter in Indian cricket history.
“I made a conscious effort not to get overly excited”- Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant expanded on his restrained excitement during and after the Brisbane Test victory. Being present in the middle when the winning runs were secured was a humbling experience for him, especially considering he wasn’t a permanent member of the Indian side in any of the three formats.
It’s noteworthy that Pant was not included in the playing XI for the opening Test defeat in Adelaide.
“I didn’t know how to react. I was playing in the middle, I was conscious about not getting over-excited. Yes, there was a lot happiness around. It was a very important match for me because I was not playing ODI and T20I. Even in Tests, my place wasn’t certain,” Rishabh Pant said.
“I was like ‘how can this happen?’. I have expectations from myself to do well, to win matches for the team. But I didn’t play the first match.”
”It was like ‘dream-come-true’ to win the match for the team. I wanted that feeling. “I was telling myself this. That was my mindset, I had belief in myself at a time when not many believed in me,” he concluded.
Rishabh Pant stepped in for Wriddhiman Saha in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, marking the beginning of his impressive journey in the red-ball format. He played a vital role in India’s draw in the third Test in Sydney and the historic win in Brisbane.
Until his injury in December 2022, Pant was arguably India’s most valuable Test batter. Across his 33 Test matches, he boasts an average of nearly 44, featuring five centuries and 11 half-centuries.
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