“Talking to me in sign language from the dugout” - Gabba 2021 hero recalls how Rohit Sharma helped him during historic win
Team India all-rounder Shardul Thakur has credited Rohit Sharma behind his crucial first-innings knock during the Brisbane Test against Australia during the 2020-21 series. The seam-bowling all-rounder revealed that the veteran cricketer's sign language helped him deal with bowlers on their merit.
Shardul, one of the traveling reserves, played his first Test of the series in Brisbane and made a telling contribution to India's historic win. Aside from taking seven wickets in the match, the Maharashtra-born cricketer scored 67 in the first innings, reducing Australia's lead to 23 when it could have been over 100.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo's Cricket Monthly, Shardul said:
"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."
With the 33-year-old perishing cheaply in the second innings when India were at the doorstep of victory, he disclosed that the opening batter was upset at him for not finishing the game.
Thakur added:
"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."
Rishabh Pant stayed unbeaten on 89 to help India gun down the target of 329 with three wickets to spare. In the process, Australia had lost in Brisbane for the first time since 1988.
Rohit Sharma under pressure ahead of the third Test against Australia
Fast forward to the present, the Nagpur-born cricketer is leading Team India on the ongoing tour of Australia. However, he finds himself under pressure as the third Test in Brisbane beckons. The 37-year-old missed the opening game in Perth due to paternity leave and returned to the line-up in Adelaide but notched up two single-figure scores as India lost by 10 wickets.
The five-Test series currently stands at 1-1. India, nevertheless, hold the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and won the last two series Down Under.