Shardul Thakur reveals Rohit Sharma’s secret role in his Gabba heroes
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 win against Australia in 2021. Thakur forged a 123-run partnership with Washington Sundar for the seventh wicket. to help Team India close in on Australia’s first innings total of 369.
Shardul Thakur came into the crease as India struggled to 186/6, but the all-rounder showed immense composure and aggression and went on to play 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 knock
Thakur recently reflected on his memorable innings at The Gabba as he revealed that Rohit Sharma used subtle sign language from the dugout to guide him during the crucial moments of the fourth Test against Australia in Brisbane.
Shardul further noted that Sharma used to hint to him when bowlers were tired or nearing the end of their spells, helping the Mumbai cricketer time his aggression wisely and keep the spotlight against Australia’s formidable bowling attack during the 2020-21 tour of India.
Rohit was speaking to me in sign language from the dugout: Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur was quoted by The Cricket Monthly as saying: “Rohit used to speak to me in sign language from the dugout. He would indicate when a bowler was tired or coming to the end of his spell. Like, I think that happened when Hazlewood was coming to the end of a spell. Rohit asked me to wait and not push to play shots.”
Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur, who went unsold in the IPL 2025 auction, also shared a second innings moment where he missed a chance to end the game as Josh Hazlewood dismissed him cheaply for 2 runs, and this resulted in a severe word. of Indian captain Rohit Sharma.
As I headed to the dugout, Rohit scolded me for not finishing the game: Thakur
Buoyed by 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* managed to get India over the line, and they wrote history by winning the Test match by three wickets.
He signed off by saying, “I was very confident from the first innings performance. Unfortunately, trying to hit over the leg side, I over-pulled. I had picked two runs from a similar type of delivery, which I had off the hips. The pressure was on again. When I went to the dugout, Rohit scolded me for not finishing it, but I defended myself by saying that I was not playing a hasty shot.”
The Gabba 2021 Test in particular remains one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket history, and Rohit Sharma and his team currently face the mighty Aussies at the same venue in the third Test of the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy- 25 in progress. However, it remains to be seen if India will repeat this historic triumph over the Australian side.
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