Ajinkya Rahane shared a funny anecdote from the nail-biting last-day finish to the fourth and final Test against Australia in Brisbane where India chased down 328-run target and won the Test by 3 wickets and the series 2-1.
Rahane was captaining the Indian side after the first Test as Kohli came back home for the birth of his child. He helped India win in Melbourne with a sublime century, while Rishabh Pant, R Ashwin, and Hanuma Vihari batted out of their skins in Sydney to secure a draw.
Brisbane proved to be the curtain call for an exciting series as India came into the match severely depleted on resources and missing the likes of Ashwin, Bumrah, Jadeja, Shami, and others due to various injuries. T Natarajan and Washington Sundar made their Test debuts, while Shardul Thakur played his first Test in 3 years.
In the end, it call came down to the last few overs as Rishabh Pant guided India towards the win on the final day, after Shubman Gill had set up the game with a brilliant 91. Washington Sundar had just gotten out for 22 which helped India up their scoring rate.
“Can never forget that moment”: Rahane recalls Kohli's run-out incident in Adelaide Test
Shardul joined a set Rishabh Pant, but while he was expected to take India over the finishing line with his partner, the India all-rounder played a rash shot and got out for two.
"Shardul Thakur was walking in when Washington got out. Rohit told him 'This is your opportunity of becoming a hero'. And he just nodded and left," Rahane said in the documentary 'Bandon Mein Tha Dum’.
R Ashwin weighed in, saying: "As he was about to go, Rohit said, "Shardul, finish it". This is exactly what he said, I totally understand Shardul. He would have imagined… 'like how Ravi bhai said, Dhoni hits a six and wins the World Cup'. So inside Shardul's head, he has already figured out the moment, the commentary, the book the movie, everything. So Shardul's gone for it, it's gone to short square leg and got out. And everybody inside is like "What are you doing?"
Rahane then added: "Rohit was sitting next to me. He said, 'let the match get over, let us win, I will teach him a lesson'. I said 'forget it, we'll see once the match is over'."
In the end, Rishabh Pant made 89* and took India to a memorable Test and series win in Brisbane, where Australia lost a Test for the first time since 1988-89.
