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 win over Australia in 2021. Thakur stitched a game-changing 123-run partnership with Washington Sundar for the seventh wicket to help Team India come close to Australia’s first-innings total of 369.
Shardul Thakur came into the crease when India was struggling at 186/6, but the all-rounder displayed 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
Recently, Thakur 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 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 bowlers were tiring or nearing the end of their spells, helping the Mumbai cricketer to time his aggression wisely and maintain focus against Australia’s formidable bowling attack during India’s 2020-21 tour.
Rohit was talking to me in sign language from the dugout: Shardul Thakur
Shardul Thakur was quoted as saying by The Cricket Monthly: “Rohit was talking to me in sign language from the dugout. He would indicate when a bowler was tiring 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 at the IPL 2025 Auction, also shared a moment from the second innings, where he missed an opportunity to finish the game, as Josh Hazlewood dismissed him cheaply for 2 runs, and it led to a stern word from the Indian captain Rohit Sharma.
When I headed to the dugout, Rohit scolded me for not finishing the game: Thakur
Riding 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 by saying, “I was riding high on confidence from the first-innings performance. Unfortunately, attempting to hit over the leg side, I top-edged. I had picked two runs off a similar sort of delivery, which I had flicked off the hips. The pressure was once again on. When I headed to the dugout, Rohit scolded me for not finishing it, but I defended myself, saying I was not playing a rash shot.”
Notably, the 2021 Gabba Test remains one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket history, and currently, Rohit Sharma and his team are facing the mighty Australians at the same venue in the third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. However, it remains to be seen whether India will repeat that historic triumph over the Australian side.
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