'Didn’t Even Play the First Match, So it was Like a Dream Come True': Rishabh Pant Recalls Gabba Triumph

Flamboyant wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant walked down memory lane and recalled the what was the instant feeling he had when he guided India to one of the most historic Test match wins at the Gabba, Brisbane in 2021. With an unbeaten 89-run knock, Pant breached Australia’s fortress Gabba as the hosts lost their first Test match on the venue after 32 years. Things got tricky in the end, but Pant made sure India clinched the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1 to register their second Test series win Down Under.

Pant talked about India’s historic triumph on Aussie soil and said the team was unified during the tour to win it and mentioned Ashwin’s name while recalling his resilience in the Sydney Test.

“That’s just the thing, cricket is not just a game, it’s an emotion. Everyone who was watching the match got so involved, I mean it wasn’t madness; every defense and every shot were cheered for by the team. To play such a match is a different feeling altogether. That everyone has unified and come together to play, especially Ashwin’s performance,” Pant told Star Sports.

The wicketkeeper batter said that he didn’t want to get excited while batting but it was a dream come true for him to help the team win the series.

“I didn’t even know how to react when we won the game. I was playing the game with the desire to win, but I didn’t want to get excited too much. It was a fun game to play, but it was very important for me because I didn’t get to play in One Days or T20’s; even Tests didn’t have a spot for me. So I thought to myself that this cannot happen; I have an expectation from myself that you have to be strong. And I didn’t even play the first match, so it was like a dream come true that I had won the game myself; I had won the Series,” he said.

Talking about self-belief, the southpaw said it’s important to trust yourself.

“I was telling myself that I need to chase this feeling. This is where self-belief comes into play, that when no one is believing in you, you still trust yourself and your abilities,” he concluded.