Brisbane: Australia strengthened their hold over the ongoing Test at The Gabba as India reached 167/6 at lunch on Day 4, still trailing by a mammoth 278 runs. Ravindra Jadeja (41* off 77 balls) and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy (7 off 20) were at the crease, battling to keep India's flickering hopes alive after KL Rahul's valiant innings came to an end.
Resuming at a precarious 51/4, India relied heavily on Rahul to anchor the innings. The opener displayed immense composure and resilience, crafting a determined 84 off 139 deliveries, laced with eight boundaries.
His dismissal, however, proved to be a turning point. Nathan Lyon struck gold for Australia, forcing an edge that was brilliantly taken by Steve Smith at slip, who redeemed himself after an earlier drop. Rahul's departure left India reeling, further denting their chances of survival.
Amid the collapse, Jadeja stood tall, blending caution with aggression. The all-rounder dispatched crisp boundaries off Pat Cummins and Lyon, offering some respite to the visitors. Partnered by debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy, who defended stoutly despite a failed Australian review, Jadeja ensured India saw out the remainder of the session without further damage.
For Australia, Pat Cummins (2/41) and Lyon (1/33) continued to exploit the turning surface and variable bounce, maintaining unrelenting pressure on the Indian batsmen. With sharp lines and consistent lengths, Australia's attack ensured that scoring opportunities remained scarce, save for Jadeja's calculated strokeplay.
Adding a twist to the session, the umpires informed both teams that ball-tracking technology was temporarily unavailable, though it had no significant impact on proceedings.
India now face a herculean task, requiring 278 more runs to match Australia's first-innings total of 445. They also remain 79 runs adrift of avoiding the follow-on, with just four wickets in hand.
Brief Scores (Lunch, Day 4):
Australia 445; India 167/6 (49 overs) Ravindra Jadeja 41*, KL Rahul 84, Pat Cummins 2/41, Nathan Lyon 1/33.
