Brisbane: On a rain-hit Day 3 of the third Test at the Gabba, India ended the day on 51/4 in 17 overs, trailing Australia’s imposing first-innings total of 445 by a significant 394 runs.
KL Rahul was the lone bright spot for the visitors, battling his way to an unbeaten 33 off 64 balls, while captain Rohit Sharma remained scoreless after facing six deliveries.
The day began with Australia resuming at 405/8. Their lower order added another 40 valuable runs, with Alex Carey notching a gritty half-century before falling to Akash Deep, who ended with figures of 6/76. Australia’s total of 445 provided a commanding lead, putting India under immense pressure.
India’s reply started on a disastrous note. Mitchell Starc, steaming in with the new ball, delivered a devastating opening spell. He removed Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) early, as the young opener flicked a half-volley straight to Mitchell Marsh at short mid-wicket. Moments later, Shubman Gill (1) fell to Starc, edging a sharp delivery to gully.
The Australian pacer wasn’t done yet. In a pivotal moment, he accounted for Virat Kohli (3), who played an expansive drive only to edge it to Alex Carey behind the stumps. Kohli’s dismissal marked a major setback for India, leaving them tottering at 6/3 within the first five overs.
Rishabh Pant (9) offered a brief counterattack but fell victim to Pat Cummins, who produced a textbook outswinger to have the left-hander caught behind. At 30/4, India seemed in complete disarray.
Amid the carnage, KL Rahul showcased tremendous composure. The right-hander weathered the storm and played a measured innings, striking four boundaries. While Rahul found some rhythm, he lacked support at the other end, with Rohit Sharma cautiously defending during his brief stay at the crease.
Rain disruptions punctuated the day, forcing an early lunch and tea breaks and reducing the overall playing time. The overcast conditions, coupled with the assistance the Gabba pitch offered, made life difficult for the Indian batsmen. Despite the interruptions, Australia’s pacers maintained relentless pressure, ensuring no easy runs for the visitors.
Starc finished the day with impressive figures of 2/24, while Cummins was equally effective, picking up 1/7 in six overs. The disciplined Australian attack exploited the Indian top order’s lack of application, further compounding their woes. Cricket experts criticised India’s approach, with Parthiv Patel remarking, “India’s batters were careless. The top-order didn’t respect the conditions or the bowlers’ discipline.”
Dinesh Karthik lauded the Australian bowlers, adding, “Starc and Cummins were clinical, making full use of the conditions. Their ability to extract movement and maintain accuracy was outstanding.”
With India still 245 runs short of avoiding the follow-on, the pressure on Rahul and Rohit to build a significant partnership on Day 4 is immense. The looming threat of rain might offer India some respite, but survival remains their primary focus. For Australia, the task will be to capitalise on their commanding position and push for a series-defining victory.
As Day 4 beckons, all eyes will be on Rahul’s grit and whether Rohit can lead his team out of trouble on a Gabba pitch that continues to test even the best.
