On a rain-marred Day 3 of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Brisbane, India’s batting frailties were glaringly exposed as they found themselves staring at the possibility of following on for the first time since 2011. With Australia already in a commanding position thanks to Alex Carey’s 70-run blitz, the visitors slumped to 51/4 by stumps, still 394 runs behind the hosts’ first-innings total of 445. If we get to see enough overs of play on the remaining two days, there could be only one result, i.e., Australia taking a 2-1 lead at BGT 2024/25.
Rain gods intervene, but Australia hold sway on Day 3
Rain and bad light delayed proceedings multiple times throughout the day, but Australia’s grip on the match remained unshaken. Starting the day at 411/7, the hosts managed to add 34 runs, with Carey shepherding the tail effectively before falling to Akash Deep, who got his much-deserved wicket.
The wrecker-in-chief was obviously Jasprit Bumrah, who completed 50 Test wickets in Australia after his six-wicket haul. Now, Bumrah has taken 18 wickets at an eye-opening bowling average of 11.72 and at a bowling strike rate of 27.33.
Weather disruptions: No affect on “settled” Australians
India’s reply started on the wrong note as Yashasvi Jaiswal fell in the very first over to Starc, flicking straight to short midwicket. Shubman Gill followed soon after, nicking to gully. Things went from bad to worse when Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant were dismissed cheaply, leaving India reeling at 39/4.
KL Rahul, the sole bright spot, remained unbeaten on 33, but his watchful knock hardly inspired confidence as the wickets tumbled at the other end. Rohit Sharma, yet to score, joined him at the crease under gloomy skies that mirrored India’s fortunes. Mitchell Starc (2/25) and Josh Hazlewood (1/17) were relentless, exploiting the Gabba pitch’s extra bounce and fast nature. Starc’s searing inswingers and Hazlewood’s nagging lengths left the Indian batters with little breathing room. Nathan Lyon, introduced late in the day, found some bounce and turn too.
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Rohit Sharma eyes an unwanted follow-on
The intermittent rain breaks might have offered some hope for the Indian dressing room, but they failed to break Australia’s momentum. Play resumed briefly after lunch, only for rain to interrupt again, and the stop-start nature of the match added to India’s woes as the batsmen struggled to find rhythm.
At 51/4, India’s task on Day 4 is clear but formidable. The Rohit Sharma-led unit is still almost 400 runs away. This means they need to put up at least 225 runs on the board in order to avoid a follow-on. They must first focus on avoiding the follow-on, a feat not required of the Indian team in the last 13 years. The last time India batted consecutively in a Test was when Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen forged a 350-run partnership at the Oval in 2011.
Beyond that lies the Herculean challenge of salvaging a draw or staging a miraculous turnaround to prevent Australia from taking the series lead. With Australia’s bowlers in menacing form and the pitch offering plenty of assistance, the odds seem stacked against the visitors. Rain, which has been a disruptor thus far, might now be India’s only ally as they stare down the barrel at the Gabba.
IND vs AUS 3rd BGT Test Day 3 summary:
- Australia 1st innings: 445 (Carey 70, Jadeja 3/92)
- India 1st innings: 51/4 in 17 overs (KL Rahul 33*, Starc (2/25), Hazlewood (1/17)
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