Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant’s heroic innings at the Gabba is now a permanent chapter in Indian cricket history. His fearless knock on the final day of the 2021 Brisbane Test against Australia secured a landmark victory for India, breaking the long-held myth of the ‘Gabba fortress’.
Pant’s unbeaten 89, guiding India in a chase of 328, dismantled a powerful Australian bowling attack and sealed a thrilling 3-wicket win, earning India a second consecutive Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Australian soil.
This tour solidified Pant’s place as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batsman in Tests, a role he has embraced with unwavering determination. Even after a serious car accident sidelined him for over a year, Pant made a stunning comeback with a signature century in a recent Test series against Bangladesh, which India won 2-0.
As Pant prepares for his third Test series in Australia next month, he reflected on his iconic Gabba innings during Star Sports’ ‘Star Nahi Far’ event. Recalling the praise from Rohit Sharma, Pant admitted he initially didn’t realize the full scope of his achievement. “I always aim to give my best, but some performances stay with you forever. The Gabba Test is one such memory,” Pant shared. “At the time, I didn’t fully understand its importance. Rohit bhai told me, ‘You don’t know what you’ve done.’“
Pant added, “I was confused because, to me, my goal was just to win the match. But Rohit bhai kept saying, ‘You’ll understand later.’ Now, hearing people talk about the Gabba Test, I realize how significant it was.”
Pant finished that unforgettable tour as India’s leading run-scorer, tallying 274 runs in 3 matches, including two fifties, at an average of 68.50. Yet, his Gabba heroics went beyond mere numbers, showcasing his exceptional talent and unshakable self-confidence.
