Indian all-rounder Shardul Thakur has opened up about the crucial role Rohit Sharma played in his memorable innings at the Gabba during India’s iconic Test victory over Australia in 2021. Thakur formed a breakthrough 123-run partnership with Washington Sundar for the seventh ground. to help Team India get closer to Australia’s first innings total of 369.

Shardul Thakur entered the crease when India were struggling at 186/6, but the all-rounder showed immense composure and aggression and played a remarkable knock of 67 runs off 115 balls, including nine boundaries and two sixes at The Gabba. despite playing only his second test.

Shardul Thakur reveals Rohit Sharma’s important role in his iconic Gabba hit

Recently, Thakur reflected on his memorable innings at The Gabba, and revealed that Rohit Sharma used subtle sign language from the dugout to guide him during the crucial moments in the fourth Test against Australia in Brisbane.

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Shardul further noted that Sharma was used to hint to him when the bowlers were tired or nearing the end of their spells, helping the Mumbai cricketer to time his aggression wisely and maintain concentration against the formidable bowling attack. of Australia during the 2020-21 tour of India.

Rohit was talking to me in sign language from the bench: Shardul Thakur

Shardul Thakur was quoted by The Cricket Monthly: “Rohit was talking to me in sign language from the dugout. It would indicate when a bowler was getting tired or nearing the end of his spell. I think that happened when Hazlewood was coming to the end of a spell. “Rohit asked me to wait and not push for shots.”

Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur, who went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, also shared a moment from the second innings, where he missed the chance to finish the game, when Josh Hazlewood dismissed him cheap for 2 runs, prompting a stern word . of Indian captain Rohit Sharma.

When I headed to the dugout, Rohit scolded me for not finishing the game: Thakur

High on confidence after his first innings heroics, Thakur attempted an ambitious shot and was dismissed by Hazlewood at The Gabba. However, Rishabh Pant’s iconic knock of 89* runs managed to take India over the line and they scripted history by winning the test match by three wickets.

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He signed off saying: “I had a lot of confidence from the performance of the first inning. Unfortunately, when trying to hit over the side of the leg, I ran into the top edge. He had chosen two races of a similar type of delivery, which he had shaken from the hips. The pressure increased again. When I headed to the dugout, Rohit scolded me for not finishing it, but I defended myself by saying that I was not taking a rash shot.”

Notably, the 2021 Gabba Test remains one of the most iconic moments in the history of Indian cricket and currently, Rohit Sharma and his team take on the mighty Australians at the same venue in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 ongoing. However, it remains to be seen whether India will repeat that historic triumph over the Australian side.