Images from Day 4 of the third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane on Tuesday.
India avoided the follow-on, scoring 252 for nine when bad light forced early stumps on day 4 of the third Test against Australia in Brisbane on Tuesday.
Ravindra Jadeja (77) and KL Rahul (84) led India's fightback, but once they were dismissed, Jasprit Bumrah (10) and Akash Deep (27) helped push the total forward, with a heroic last wicket stand of 39 off 54 balls.
India, however, still trail by 193 runs.
For Australia, skipper Pat Cummins was the most successful bowler, taking four wickets for 80 runs, while Mitchell Starc claimed three for 83. Nathan Lyon (1/54) also picked up a wicket on a day when Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the match due to injury.
Ravindra Jadeja stonewalled the Australian bowlers with a characteristically doughty fifty, carrying India to 201 for seven at tea on a rain-interrupted fourth day of the third Test in Brisbane on Tuesday.
Jadeja (65 batting, 109b, 6x4) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (16, 61b) added 53 runs for the seventh wicket, ensuring that KL Rahul's classy 84 will not go in vain.
India still trail the hosts by 244 runs, but more importantly, they are 45 runs closer to avoiding the follow-on and forcing the Aussies to bat again, which will all but ensure a drawn match.
Mohammed Siraj, who was promoted to No. 8, is giving company to Jadeja on 1.
Jadeja showed the value he brings to the table as a batter.
In Australia, Jadeja now averages over 54 and his last four innings on these shores are: 65 not out, 28 not out, 57 and 81.
The 36-year-old scored a good chunk of runs either down the ground or square of the wicket, enabling him to collect the runs without the risk of getting caught behind or in the cordon.
Jadeja brought up his 22nd fifty in Test cricket off 89 balls and the innings was also dotted with sweep shots that he effectively employed against off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Nitish should also be patted for giving some solid company to Jadeja as batting for time was of more importance than the volume of runs considering the weather pattern in Brisbane.
However, a slice of misfortune ended Nitish's stay as he dragged Pat Cummins's climbing delivery back onto his stumps, moments before the teams dispersed for tea after yet another rain interruption.
K L Rahul withstood a stern test by Australia’s bowlers with a resolute fifty before India went for lunch on an underwhelming 167 for 6 on Day 4 of the third Test in Brisbane on Tuesday.
His gritty 84 off 139 balls, which included 8 fours, and an equally feisty 41 (77 balls, 4x4) by Ravindra Jadeja raised 67 runs for the sixth wicket before he fell to a remarkably athletic catch by Steve Smith at first slip off Nathan Lyon, as the home side regained the momentum.
Nitish Kumar Reddy (7) was the other not out batter at the end of the first session that was impeded by a short spell of rain an hour into the day’s play.
India still trail Australia by 278 runs.
Resuming at their overnight scored of 51 for 4, India needed someone to put his hands up and show some fight, and Rahul rose to the occasion.
There was a moment of good fortune for the batter when Smith spilled a regulation catch at second slip off the first delivery of the day from Pat Cummins.
Rahul was on 33 then. A quick look upwards and a silent prayer showed how much he valued that reprieve, which he exploited to the hilt.
Once he woke up from a bit of morning haziness, he looked a class apart from the rest of his teammates.
The Aussies employed three slips and gully, leaving vast expanse of the ground for him to play his favourite shot — drive through the cover or in front of the point.
But Rahul was prudent enough to see through that ruse. He did not bring out that shot until the bowlers pitched the ball well up in his driving arc.
The Bengaluru man's sagacity shone bright in how he defended too — all soft hands and playing close to the body.
Cummins tested him with that fifth stump line outside off, but Rahul either left the ball wisely or merely tucked his bat behind his pads.
Perhaps, he has been watching the footages of Cheteshwar Pujara on how to tire out the Aussie pacers.
However, skipper Rohit Sharma (10) would rue missing out of another chance to play an impact innings Down Under.
He looked comfortable out there, showing patience to wait for the ball of his choice to play a shot, but, eventually, the 37-year-old was drawn into that no-feet movement shot, his bane throughout this series.
Cummins pitched one close to the off-stump and Rohit poked at it with hard hands for Alex Carey to do the rest behind the stumps.
However, the absence of pacer Josh Hazlewood, who left the field after bowling just one awkward over, reduced the intensity of Australia’s attack.
Later, Cricket Australia clarified that Hazlewood, who missed the second Test at Adelaide with a side strain, will undergo scans to determine the extent of a calf niggle.
