"Tujhe nahi pata tune kya kara hai" - When Rohit Sharma was in awe of teammate during Gabba Test of BGT 2020-21
With Team India keeper-batter Rishabh Pant set to return to the Gabba for the third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) against Australia, fans have been reliving his heroics at the venue three years ago. During an interaction earlier this year, the 27-year-old had revealed Rohit Sharma's words following his match-winning knock.
With the series on the line and India needing 329 on the final day of the Test, Pant was at the forefront of that win. While Shubman Gill (91) and Cheteshwar Pujara (56) laid the foundation of that chase, the left-hander provided the finishing touches. He hit a boundary for the winning runs and the tourists retained the BGT with three wickets to spare.
Speaking on Star Sports earlier this year, Pant disclosed that Rohit kept making him understand the magnitude of his knock at the Gabba. He said the current Test skipper told him he would understand its importance when he retired.
"Rohit bhai mera reaction dekh rahe they. But woh itna dekh nahin rahe they ki excited ho raha hai. Unhone kaha, 'Tujhe nahin pata tune kya kara hai. Maine bola yaar match hee jeete hain, dusri baar. 'Jab tu cricket chodega na, tab tujhe samajh mein aayega is innings ki importance. Kyunki tujhe khud nahin pata tune kara kya hai. Toh woh phir mere liye thoda sa tha yaar 'thik hai badhiya toh lag raha hai.'"
(He told me. 'You don't know what have you done.' I told him all we have done is win a match for the second time. He told me, 'When you retire, then you will understand this innings' importance because you yourself don't know what have you done here.')
The win for India consigned Australia to their first Test defeat in Brisbane since 1988. The tourists also came back from being 0-1 to clinch the four-Test series 2-1.
Rishabh Pant has had a quiet BGT 2024-25 so far
In the current BGT, Rishabh Pant is yet to score big in four innings, managing 37, 0, 21 and 28 across two Tests. With the youngster carrying happy memories of the venue, he will be eyeing a return to form.
Team India won the opening Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth by 295 runs but Australia bounced back to level the series in Adelaide. They won by ten wickets and maintained their perfect pink-ball record in Adelaide.