Brisbane: As Australia finds itself a bowler short, Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Reddy aim to stave off the threat of a follow-on on Day 4 of the third Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Tuesday.
By the time Lunch arrived, India had posted a score of 167/6, still trailing by 278 runs, with Jadeja and Nitish remaining not out at 41 (77) and 7 (20), respectively.
KL Rahul joined captain Rohit Sharma at the crease and began his innings with a stroke of luck. On the very first delivery of the day, Rahul edged the ball directly to Steven Smith, who was positioned at second slip.
As the ball made contact with the bat, Rahul quickly turned to gauge the result of his tentative shot. Smith managed to get both hands to the ball, but it slipped through his grasp. The relief on Rahul's face and his body language was unmistakable. With a hand on his head and a deep breath, he embodied the emotions shared by every Indian cricket fan at that moment.
With his reprieve, Rahul capitalized on the opportunity, delivering some exquisite cover drives against the Australian bowlers. In contrast, Rohit opted for a more cautious approach, steering clear of deliveries that were outside the off-stump line.
However, in the contest between the two captains, Rohit was not as fortunate as his partner. His patience eventually faltered when he attempted a drive, remaining static on his feet, which resulted in an edge to Alex Carey, leading to his dismissal for a modest 10 (27).
Despite Rohit's departure, Rahul intensified his efforts, alleviating pressure on the Indian side and providing fans with a moment to celebrate as he reached his 17th Test fifty.
India faced a setback with the loss of their captain, while Australia dealt with their own issues as Josh Hazlewood was sidelined due to a suspected calf injury following the drinks break. A brief rain interruption provided both teams with an opportunity to reassess their strategies.
With Hazlewood unavailable, Rahul seized the moment, supported by Ravindra Jadeja. The Australian bowlers began to concede runs, as India aimed to finish the session with a total of 150.
The momentum shifted when Rahul attempted to cut a delivery from Nathan Lyon. Steve Smith, having previously dropped a catch, leaped to take an impressive one-handed catch.
As Rahul departed after scoring 84 runs off 13 balls, Nitish Kumar Reddy entered the fray to mount a counteroffensive. He quickly got off the mark with a beautiful drive for four runs.
Jadeja remained unfazed against Lyon, executing a clean sweep to demonstrate his ability to accumulate runs, as India fought to avoid a follow-on. The pair successfully navigated the session, ending with an unbroken partnership of 26 runs.
Brief Score: Australia 445 (Travis Head 152, Steven Smith 151; Jasprit Bumrah 6-76) vs India 167/6 (KL Rahul 84, Ravindra Jadeja 41*; Pat Cummins 2-41).
