On January 19, 2021, Team India rewrote the history books by breaching the Gabba fortress against Australia. India’s young brigade registered a phenomenal three-wicket win over Australia in the fourth Test to clinch the series 2-1. On the second anniversary of India’s heroics, former Indian head coach, Ravi Shastri penned a note to laud the efforts of Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, and Shardul Thakur.
In a couple of tweets, Ravi Shastri wrote: “#TDTY 2021 – 3 youngsters defied all odds to script the greatest Test win. Shubman Gill laid the foundation. Mohammed Siraj got the breakthroughs and Rishabh Pant finished it. Add Washington Sundar and Washington Sundar to the list. Their contribution was immense in the series win.”
Add @Sundarwashi5 & @imShard to the list. Their contribution was immense in the series win 🏆
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) January 19, 2023
Ravi Shastri also hoped that the wicket-keeper, Rishabh Pant returns to India’s Test team soon as the side will host the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in February. Rishabh Pant underwent a couple of ligament surgeries and he is recovering well after he was involved in a horrific car accident on December 30 last year on his way from Delhi to Dehradun.
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Talking about the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21, it is one of the greatest that India had ever played in overseas conditions, winning 2-1, despite not having the services of its best players. Rishabh Pant was the star performer in the Gabba Test as he amassed 89* off 138 balls. Pant, coming into bat at number 5 helped India chase down an improbable target of 328 runs against the mighty Australian bowling attack.
Pant handled the pressure pretty well during his knock after coming in and batted with four batters in the lower order to take India to a historic series win. And incredibly proud Ajinkya Rahane – the stand-in captain for most of the Test series said that it was a battle of wills between the two teams and cricket was more than just a game of bat and ball.
Ajinkya Rahane had said, “We’ve all been cribbing, knowing what to do, but failing to act, just looking back and struggling to get out of that negative bubble and here are a few spirited determined young men showing us the way. But are we as willing as they are? It comes down to that. And that’s why there’s a lot more to cricket than just bat and ball. A salute to the entire Indian contingent for giving us a reason to wake up early, look forward to something with belief and make us smile in these tough times.”
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India head coach Ravi Shastri, who was criticized for favoring Rishabh Pant ahead of Wriddhiman Saha said that Pant was a match-winner in Australian conditions and had the ability to turn any game on its head.
Ravi Shastri had said, “Rahane might look calm but he is a strong man from inside. A tough character. We play Pant abroad because he is a match winner. When he doesn’t keep well, people criticize him. But he can help you win matches like these.”
