With India and Australia set to lock horns once again at the Gabba, starting December 14, fans have been consistently reliving Rishabh Pant's heroics at the venue four years ago. Pant, who was at the forefront of Team India's famous win in Brisbane, revealed that Rohit Sharma made him understand the magnitude of his unbeaten 89.
With a daunting 329 to chase down on day five against the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, Pant stayed till the end and struck an unbeaten 89 to see Team India over the line. Shubman Gill (91) and Cheteshwar Pujara (56) had earlier set the tone for their win but the keeper-batter hit the winning runs to seal the series. In the process, Australia lost their first Test at the Gabba since 1988.
Speaking to Star Sports earlier this year, he said:
"Rohit bhai ki ek cheez yaad hai. Woh mera reaction dekh rahe they. But woh itna dekh nahin rahe they ki excited ho raha hai. Unhone kaha, 'Tujhe nahin pata tune kya kara hai. Maine bola yaar match hee jeete hain, dusri baar. 'Jab tu cricket chodega na, tab tujhe samajh mein aayega is innings ki importance. Kyunki tujhe khud nahin pata tune kara kya hai. Toh woh phir mere liye thoda sa tha yaar 'thik hai badhiya toh lag raha hai.'"
(I remember what Rohit Sharma told me that day. I think he didn't notice that I wasn't being as excited. He told me. 'You don't know what have you done.' I told him all we have done is win a match for the second time. He told me, 'When you retire, then you will understand this innings' importance because you yourself don't know what have you done here.' Then I thought to myself I feel great.)
Rishabh Pant has had a quite BGT 2024-25 so far
Meanwhile, the 27-year-old hasn't had a desired start to the series, compiling scores of 37, 0, 21 and 28 across two Tests. However, the southpaw will fancy himself returning to form in the third Test at the Gabba.
Team India won the opening Test in Perth by 295 runs, but Australia bounced back in Adelaide with a ten-wicket victory in Adelaide. With both sides' top-order being inconsistent in Perth and Adelaide, it will be massively in focus in Brisbane.
