India fought back on day 4 of the third Test against Australia, managing to avoid the follow-on by reaching 252 for nine before bad light forced early stumps. Although India still trails by 193 runs, their resilient effort was led by Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul, who made crucial contributions with the bat.
Jadeja's 77 and Rahul's 84 were instrumental in keeping India's chances alive, as they fought through a tough session. Once they were dismissed, Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep provided some much-needed resistance.
The pair shared a vital 39-run stand for the last wicket, with Bumrah scoring 10 and Deep adding 27. Their partnership helped India push the score forward and avert the follow-on.
Pat Cummins was the standout bowler for Australia, taking four wickets for 80 runs. Mitchell Starc was also effective, picking up three wickets for 83, while Nathan Lyon added one more wicket to the tally.
Australia’s attack was further boosted by the absence of Josh Hazlewood, who was ruled out of the match due to injury.
KL Rahul’s knock of 84 was particularly vital. He began the day solidly and played a key role in India’s recovery. He reached his 17th Test half-century off 85 balls, displaying both composure and determination.
Rahul’s partnership with Jadeja, which added 67 runs, was a bright spot in an otherwise challenging day for India.
The post-lunch session saw some disruption due to rain, but it was Jadeja’s steadfast innings that continued to provide hope. He formed a valuable 53-run partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy, who contributed 16 runs before being dismissed by Cummins. Despite the rain, India’s resistance held firm.
The day began with India resuming at 51 for four, with the team facing an uphill battle to avoid the follow-on. Early wickets fell, including the dismissal of captain Rohit Sharma for just 10.
However, Rahul and Jadeja's partnership, combined with late contributions from Bumrah and Deep, ensured that India would not be asked to follow on.
With the five-match series currently tied at 1-1, this match has seen both teams battle it out in difficult conditions. India’s hopes are still alive, but they have a challenging task ahead, needing to score another 193 runs to reach Australia’s total of 445.
The focus now will be on the final day, with India hoping to continue their fightback and build on the efforts of their middle and lower-order batsmen.
In brief, Australia made 445 runs in their first innings, while India ended day 4 at 252 for nine. The match remains in the balance, and all eyes will be on the final day of play.
Follow us
