New Delhi: Cheteshwar Pujara, India’s steadfast wall in Test cricket, has opened up about the painful yet unforgettable innings he played during the iconic 2021 Gabba Test in Brisbane. India’s three-wicket victory in that match, which sealed a historic series win, continues to be remembered as one of the finest moments in Indian cricket.
While Shubman Gill’s fluent 91 and Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 89 grabbed the spotlight in the chase of 328 runs, it was Pujara’s gritty 56 off 211 deliveries that truly embodied resilience. The veteran batsman revealed that enduring repeated body blows from Australia’s fearsome pace attack was part of his strategy to hold the innings together.
“The 2021 Australian tour is etched in my memory forever. Batting at the Gabba was among the toughest challenges I’ve faced the pitch had unpredictable bounce and the Aussie bowlers kept testing me. I was hit on my body several times, even injured my finger, but I had decided that if I couldn’t play the shots, I would take the hits and protect my wicket,” Pujara recalled.
The blows were not just physical but also psychological, he admitted. “When the ball keeps striking your body, it shakes your confidence. And when it lands on the same spot again and again, the pain becomes unbearable. But that’s where your mental toughness, dedication, and love for the country come in. If you lose that discipline, one rash shot can cost you your wicket and the game,” he said.
Pujara’s knock, though modest in numbers, symbolized defiance against Australia’s fiery pace battery. His endurance provided the platform for Gill and Pant to play freely and script India’s remarkable win. “In the end, all the pain was worth it because India won the match and the series,” Pujara said with pride.
The Gabba Test will always be remembered not only for the victory but also for the sight of Pujara standing tall, bruised but unbroken, absorbing every blow for the team and the tricolor.