IND 252/9 in 74.5 overs (Trail by 193) Stumps | India vs Australia Highlights of 3rd Test 2024 Day 4: India Avoid Follow-On, Australia Still Holds Command In Brisbane Encounter

Day Four in the first two and a half sessions, were all about rains, and Australia bowlers getting the better of Indian batters, except KL Rahul, and Ravindra Jadeja. Both Rahul and Jadeja struck crucial fifties, which ensured that Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep got only a few runs to help India avoid the follow-on. The final 30 minutes of play had everything, tension, suspense, and drama, where Bumrah and Deep added 39 runs and took India across the follow-on target, much to the jubilation of the Indian dressing room. 

Players go off the field, however, this time Australia are the ones, who look dejected, while Indian batters look the happier of the two. Umpires have decided that stumps will be taken early and that players will head back to the hotel, and not just the dressing room. 

India have managed to avoid the follow-on. The dressing room is joyous as both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma share high-fives with each other.  Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep have showcased how to bat against Australian seemers, which should be a lesson of specialist batters. 

This has been the most engaging play of the whole Test as Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep are fighting hard to help India avoid a follow-on. Both have showcased brilliant acumen, which even witnessed Rohit Sharma applaud from the dressing room. The duo have added 28 off 43.

OUT! Pat Cummins gets the dangerous Ravindra Jadeja, who showcased his T20-hitting skills in the last few overs. Cummins opened up the field on the final ball of the over, and Jadeja trying to hit over the top, handed a simple catch at mid-wicket region. Ravindra Jadeja c Mitchell Marsh b Pat Cummins 77(123)

OUT!  Mitchell Starc gets Mohammed Siraj. Siraj gets an outside edge as Alex Carey takes a blinder to dismiss the bowler. Back for the final session of Day 4, which will be extended in case light or rain permits. India are still 40-odd runs away from avoiding the follow-on. The onus, more or so lies on Ravindra Jadeja to get India past their first target, along with help from the tail. Mohammed Siraj c Carey b Mitchell Starc 1(11)

And rain returns, as Mitchell Starc expresses his disbelief in the middle. This has been the story of the Day three and four, where whenever Australia claimed a wicket, rain interrupted play. Ravindra Jadeja continues to show defiance in the middle along with Mohammed Siraj, who is lucky to survive in the middle. 

OUT! Pat Cummins comes into the attack and provides Australia a breakthrough. Cummins should have bowled earlier and brought in Nathan Lyon for the tailenders. Nitish Kumar Reddy added 53 runs with Ravindra Jadeja, however, his SRH captain rattles his stumps. Nitish Reddy b Pat Cummins 16(61)

This has been a stellar stand for India, with both Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy showcasing determined cricket. Both players have left the ball, which have been outside off-stump line, and also have not offered any shot to the short-ball ploy by Australian bowlers. The duo have added 50 runs in 93 balls. 

India are still 65 runs away from avoiding follow-on, which should be their first target, and then look to get as close to Australia's first-innings score as possible. With Josh Hazlewood unavailable to bowl, Pat Cummins has continued to bowl Nathan Lyon from one-end, while pacers bowl from the other end. 

The good news coming in from Brisbane is that after inspection, umpires have decided that play will resume at 11:00 AM Indian Standard Time (IST). This start-and-stop has been difficult for Indian batters, who have had around 7-9 interruptions since the start of their innings. 

Play To Resume Soon

Strange sight at The Gabba, with the sun being out, the floodlights switched on, and rain pouring down from the sky. The downpour has gotten heavier since the players left the field. India are still 66 behind from avoiding the follow-on.

Just as things were looking bright for India, the weather conditions in Brisbane have gotten dark. Players have gone back into the dressing room after rain arrived amidst Mitchell Starc's over. 

FIFTY! This has been an outstanding knock for Ravindra Jadeja under immense pressure. Jadeja did not go in a shell, and played all his scoring shots, whenever a chance presented itself. The post-lunch session will last two hours if rain does not interrupt play. 

The good news from Brisbane is that play in the post-lunch session will start at 9:40 IST. It will be important for India, that Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy get the remaining 76 runs to avoid follow-on. 

Just as the post-lunch session was about to begin, the drizzle is back at The Gabba. It is not raining heavily, but enough for match officials to delay the start of play. So far, in 32 overs today, 116 runs have been scored and two wickets have fallen. 

Coming back into form, Ravindra Jadeja has showcased attacking cricket in the middle, against an attack that had the Indian batting order down and out on Day 3. Jadeja is nearing his 22nd Test half-century, while Nitish Kumar Reddy has adapted to the situation and is batting composedly. 

OUT! Steve Smith takes a blinder, and KL Rahul has to depart for 84. Looking to cut a short ball from Nathan Lyon, Rahul managed to edge the ball towards the right of Smith, who flew himself to grab hold of the catch and dismiss the Indian batter on 84. KL Rahul c Smith b Nathan Lyon 84(139)

KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja have looked in control during his partnership, which as already added 56 runs in 84 balls. While Rahul has done most of the scoring, Jadeja has looked comfortable in the middle in contrast of any other Indian top-order batter.  Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood has gone off the field and is being taken for scans to assess his injury.

Top Stand Between KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja

So after a small interval, the players are back on the field, and action on Day Four resumes. KL Rahul has been the backbone of this Indian inning and will look to carry on as long as possible. Ravindra Jadeja will need to step up as well, he has been a disappointment in the last few Tests.