"Put this match on live and I would watch it again!" - Fans reminisce the 2nd anniversary of the iconic Thakur-Sundar partnership at the Gabba 

The all-rounder pair of Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar stitched together an iconic 123-run partnership for the seventh wicket on January 17, 2021, at the Gabba to instill hope in the Indian hearts. The duo rescued the visitors from a perilous position and set up the platform for the iconic victory later on.

Fielding a playing XI that included two debutants, T Natarajan and Sundar, Team India conceded 369 runs in the first innings. In reply, the Ajinkya Rahane-led side slumped to 186-6 and were on course to succumb to a significant lead that the hosts would capitalize on.

However, Thakur and Sundar stood tall against the rampant Aussie bowling outfit. The duo were not afraid to play their strokes and dampened the hosts' hopes of claiming a huge lead after the first innings.

From Thakur's sheer flamboyance to Sundar's nerveless strokeplay in his maiden red-ball appearance, the partnership played a huge role in the eventual victory that broke Australia's proud streak of 36 years at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Washington Sundar scored 62 runs, while the other all-rounder scored 67 runs as they helped India reduce the deficit to just 33 runs, which played a crucial role as the game progressed.

As we mark the two-year anniversary of the iconic partnership, fans congregated to celebrate the feat and recall their best moments from the stands. Here are some of the reactions on Twitter:

Likhith R K

@liki_rk

@ESPNcricinfo Put this match on live and I would watch it again!

@ESPNcricinfo Put this match on live and I would watch it again!

Madhusudhan ⚪

@madhuk1707

@ESPNcricinfo The collapse
The come back
The courage
The chase
That's the sum up of historic series

@ESPNcricinfo The collapse
The come back
The courage
The chase
That's the sum up of historic series

Rohan Chahar

@rohanChahar05

@ESPNcricinfo The crucial inning that staged the 4th inning HISTORIC WIN

@ESPNcricinfo The crucial inning that staged the 4th inning HISTORIC WIN💙

Bharbhuti ji

@crickdevil

It's been two years now since that epic Sundar and Lord Shardul Thakur Partnership
@Sundarwashi5 @imShard
#INDvAUS twitter.com/imVkohli/statu…

Virat Kohli

@imVkohli

Outstanding application and belief by @Sundarwashi5 and @imShard. This is what test cricket is all about. Washy top composure on debut and tula parat maanla re Thakur!

281636

19582

Outstanding application and belief by @Sundarwashi5 and @imShard. This is what test cricket is all about. Washy top composure on debut and tula parat maanla re Thakur! 👏👌

It's been two years now since that epic Sundar and Lord Shardul Thakur Partnership 🔥
@Sundarwashi5 @imShard
#INDvAUS twitter.com/imVkohli/statu…

Niteeeshh_GCR

@NiteeshR18

@ESPNcricinfo No look shot and pull of sundar .
Coverdrives of shardul 🤩🤩

@ESPNcricinfo No look shot and pull of sundar .
Coverdrives of shardul 🤩🤩

Souvik Roy

@souvikroy_SRT

This is for those who thinks Washington Sundar can't bat at 5/6 in ODIs/T20Is. twitter.com/ESPNcricinfo/s…

ESPNcricinfo

@ESPNcricinfo

Two years ago #OnThisDay, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur staged a 123-run counterattack from 186/6 at The Gabba

Which shot was the highlight of that partnership? 🏏

#INDvAUS

433

13

Two years ago #OnThisDay, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur staged a 123-run counterattack from 186/6 at The Gabba 🔥

Which shot was the highlight of that partnership? 🏏

#INDvAUS https://t.co/shtubr3inO

This is for those who thinks Washington Sundar can't bat at 5/6 in ODIs/T20Is. twitter.com/ESPNcricinfo/s…

Shibashis Chatterjee

@Iamshibashis

Two years ago #OnThisDay, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur staged a 123-run counterattack from 186/6 at The Gabba

Two years ago #OnThisDay, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur staged a 123-run counterattack from 186/6 at The Gabba 🔥 https://t.co/vNfZP390rj

ಭರತ್

@bharathr002

@ESPNcricinfo Thakur's cover drives, back foot punches against Starc

7

@ESPNcricinfo Thakur's cover drives, back foot punches against Starc 🔥

North Stand Gang - Wankhede

@NorthStandGang

Two years ago, on this very day 🧡

These youngsters were quietly plotting a beautiful partnership in the middle of a mission to breach the Fortress of Gabba.

38

6

Two years ago, on this very day 🧡

These youngsters were quietly plotting a beautiful partnership in the middle of a mission to breach the Fortress of Gabba. ❤️ https://t.co/W3aq8qIWqO

Soham

@_username_404

@NorthStandGang The way Lord Shardul batted that day... 🥵

@NorthStandGang The way Lord Shardul batted that day... 🥵🔥🙌

दिव्यांश Divyansh

@DC_9812

@NorthStandGang @Sundarwashi5 @imShard @bhogleharsha @MayantiLanger_B @Deepsontweet1 @aaliaaaliya @SanjanaGanesan @jatinsapru @ajinkyarahane88 @gargiraut15 Damn….still watch it every week…toota hai gabba ka ghamand 🏻

1

@NorthStandGang @Sundarwashi5 @imShard @bhogleharsha @MayantiLanger_B @Deepsontweet1 @aaliaaaliya @SanjanaGanesan @jatinsapru @ajinkyarahane88 @gargiraut15 Damn….still watch it every week…toota hai gabba ka ghamand 💪🏻

Sulay 🏏

@Sulay177

@ESPNcricinfo Times flies so quickly. Can't believe it's 2 years ago.

2

@ESPNcricinfo Times flies so quickly. Can't believe it's 2 years ago.

Team India compiled a historic run chase in the fourth innings after Thakur's four-fer in the second innings

Mohammed Siraj, who had to lead the bowling attack despite being a newcomer himself, took a five-wicket haul in the second innings. Shardul Thakur claimed four wickets as Australia were bowled out for 294 runs, leaving India with a target of 328 to win the Test as well as the four-match series.

Team India had a shaky start after Rohit Sharma's early dismissal, but a crucial partnership between Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara instilled hope among the squad as well as the fans.

Rishabh Pant struck an unbeaten 89 and was well-aided by a cameo from Washington Sundar as the visitors scaled the target with three overs remaining.

Is the Gabba triumph Team India's most decorated overseas red-ball achievement? Let us know what you think.

---

​