Virat Kohli Heaps High Praise On Shardul Thakur And Washington Sundar For Their Record-Breaking 123-Run Stand At The Gabba

Indian skipper Virat Kohli has heaped high praise on the duo of Washington Sundar (62) and Shardul Thakur (67) following the duo’s record-breaking 7th wicket stand against a high-class Australian bowling attack at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur showed remarkable grit, composure, defiance, tenacity, something that has been the hallmark of this Indian team throughout this tour.

India looked dead and buried when debutant Sundar and Shardul Thakur came together at the crease. The tourists had just lost their three main batsmen in the form of Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant, and Maynank Agarwal within a space of 42 runs

Josh Hazlewood, who had taken three of the four wickets that had fallen on day 03 up until that mark, was breathing fire, and with Australia’s first innings total looking a long way away, it looked like India would concede a hefty lead.

But Sundar and Thakur ensured that none of that happened as they showed remarkable resilience besides their obvious talent to stitch India’s highest seventh-wicket stand at the Gabba. They broke the 30-year-old record held by Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar.

In the process, the duo also brought up India’s 300 and their respective half-centuries. Washington Sundar became the first No.7 batsman since 1911 to score a half-century in Australia on debut besides becoming only the fifth Indian debutant to score a 50 and take 3 wickets.

The 123-run-stand was eventually broken by Pat Cummins but by then the duo had ensured that Australia will have to do all the running if they have to enforce a result as the home side eventually ended up with a meager 33-run-lead.

Needless to say, Virat Kohli was chuffed to bits with the remarkable calm and grit shown by Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur. The Indian skipper took to Twitter where he wrote:

“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! ??

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! ??

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) January 17, 2021

Also Read: Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur Become First Indian Pair To Register A Century Partnership For 7th Wicket At The Gabba