Langer also said Pant's Gabba knock reminded him a bit of Stokes' innings at Headingley.
Australia head coach Justin Langer has heaped praise on the Indian Cricket Team for their lion-hearted efforts to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after his team was outplayed by an inexperienced and injury-plagued side in the fourth and final Test at The Gabba on Tuesday (January 19).
Team India was without their key players in the last two matches of the four-Test series and even played in the Brisbane Test with a second-string side especially the bowlers, but showed tremendous grit and determination to pull off a thrilling 3-wicket win in the final Test against Australia.
After recording their lowest-ever Test score of 36 in the second innings in the Adelaide Test, India made an incredible comeback in the series – first they defeated Australia in Melbourne Test and then fought hard to draw the third Test in Sydney despite battling with many injuries.
And on Tuesday, an injury-ravaged young Indian team has now breached Australia’s fortress in Gabba, thrashing the hosts at the venue for the first time after 32 years to win the historic and incredible Test series 2-1 for the second consecutive time on the Australia soil.
Following a surprising series loss, a shocked Justin Langer said India deserved full credit but he has learned one massive lesson that nothing can be taken for granted and “never ever, ever underestimate” Indians and they're “really tough” players while praising their never-say-die spirit.
The Aussie coach also lauded Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill who both played knocks of 89 and 91 in Brisbane to help India record a famous three-wicket win over Australia on Tuesday.
Indian cricket has found a number of stars during the Test series in the likes of Gill, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, and Shardul Thakur and Langer said appreciated the touring party for their resolute approach by saying he couldn’t be glad about Indian players enough.
Langer told Channel 7: “It was an incredible Test series and in the end, there is always a winner or a loser. Today Test cricket is the winner, it is going to hurt us big time. India deserved full credit. They have been outstanding but we have learned lessons from the setback.
First, you can never take anything for granted, second never ever, ever underestimate the Indians. There are 1.5 billions Indians and if you play in that first eleven you got to be really tough, don't you?”
The Aussie coach further added, “It is an amazing effort, Pant’s innings reminded me of Ben Stokes at Headingley actually. He came in, he was fearless and he will be lauded for that. Young Shubman Gill also batted well, their young bowling attack kept us under pressure in the whole game. India deserves full credit. I couldn’t appreciate and compliment India enough.”
He signed off by saying, “Indians haven't gone away after that first Test match which we won in three days, bowled them out for 30 odd. For them to fight back like they did is amazing, credit to them. The big lesson for us is that you can't take anything for granted. India never got away.”
(With ANI/PTI Inputs)