Gabba Test: Rohit was talking to me in sign language from the dugout: Shardul Thakur on his counterattacking 67 in famous 2020/21 win | Cricket News

Shardul Thakur played a crucial knock in the first innings at Gabba in the famous win to clinch the series in 2020/2021. When the all-rounder came to the crease the score was 186/6. He along with Washington Sundar built a crucial 123-run partnership to help India get closer to Australia’s first innings total of 369 runs.
“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,” Shardul revealed about his counter-attacking 67 speaking to The Cricket Monthly.
Shardul did play some aggressive shots against Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The 33-year-old said he has taken inspiration from Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara. “In the previous Test, I had seen how Pujara had tackled Lyon in Sydney when the ball was turning square. He was using his feet a lot – stepping out but also going deep in his crease.”
“And initially when I faced Lyon, I tried to stay deep in my crease, but I realized he could get me out if I got stuck there, with the tempting lines and lengths – you would attempt to push the ball towards cover and get a nick against a ball that turns in, and short leg comes into play,” he added.
“So I felt the best way was to use my feet. With the kind of field placement he had, I was trying to go on the offside when I stepped out against the turn. But that delivery was right in the slot [to go over long-on],” Shardul further said. Despite having a fruitful series last time around Shardul was not selected for the ongoing Australia series and was also ignored the franchises in the recently concluded Indian Premier League Auction.

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