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

Records continued to tumble for Team India in the ongoing Test series against Australia as fast bowler Shardul Thakur and debutant off-spinner Washington Sundar broke the three-decade-old record for the highest 7th wicket-stand for their country and also the first to stitch a 100+ stand for the same at the Gabba in Brisbane.

The duo achieved the feat on the third afternoon of the series-decider of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in what is a stand that has helped India stage a fightback following a collapse in the first two sessions.

Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar broke the 1983 World Cup-winning skipper Kapil Dev and all-rounder Manoj Prabhakar s record of a 58-run-stand, the duo had stitched against Australia at the same venue during the 1991/92 tour.

Thakur and debutant Sundar had come together at the crease after India had lost the trio of Ajinkya Rahane, Mayank Agarwal, and Rishabh Pant within a space of a 12-over period as they reduced to 6/186 in response to Australia’s first innings total of 369.

But just as it looked like Australia were on course of a healthy and potentially match-winning first-innings lead, India fought back against all odds as the duo of Thakur and Sundar chipped away at Australia’s lead and in process of doing so, they looked utterly comfortable at the crease as they went about unleashing their full range of strokes.

The partnership soon crossed the 100-run-mark and in the process, the duo notched up their respective maiden half-centuries. Shardul Thakur got to his half-century in a stunning fashion as he smoked Nathan Lyon over his head for a monstrous six.

For India in this Test:

Most Runs: Sundar & Thakur

Most Wkts: Sundar, Thakur & Nattu

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) January 17, 2021

At the time of writing, debutant Washington Sundar has too completed his maiden half-century with a single straight down the ground off Mitchell Starc. In the process, Sundar also became the first visiting No.7 batsman since 1911 (Frank Foster) to score a Test fifty on debut in Australia and also the second Indian after Rahul Dravid to score a fifty on debut overseas while batting at No.7 in Tests.

The 123-run-stand was finally broken by Pat Cummins, who knocked over Shardul Thakur for 67.

Also Read: Washington Sundar Becomes First Visiting Batsman To Score A 50 Batting At No 7 On Test Debut In Australia Since 1911