Gabba, Brisbane — Heavy rain played spoilsport on the third day of the third Test between India and Australia, with only 17 overs bowled on Monday. India ended a rain-interrupted day at 51-4, struggling to avoid the follow-on as Australia’s bowlers exploited the challenging conditions.
Persistent downpours disrupted the match multiple times, forcing players off the field and leaving India facing an uphill battle. At stumps, KL Rahul was unbeaten on 33, while captain Rohit Sharma was yet to score. India still requires 245 runs to avoid the follow-on after bowling Australia out for 445 earlier in the day.
Australia Builds on Strong Start
Resuming the day on 405-7, Australia’s innings was wrapped up quickly by India. Alex Carey, who added a crucial 70 runs, was the last man dismissed, giving the hosts a significant advantage.
India’s Batting Struggles
India’s reply began disastrously as they slumped to 6-3 in the first session. Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck off Mitchell Starc’s second delivery, setting the tone for a difficult day. Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli followed soon after, falling to Starc and Josh Hazlewood, respectively. Kohli’s dismissal for a faint edge to Alex Carey continued his lean run in the series.
KL Rahul battled on despite being struck on the wrist by a rising delivery from Hazlewood. He and Rishabh Pant attempted to stabilize the innings, but Pant was dismissed for 16, edging Pat Cummins to Carey.
Rain and Bad Light Dominate
Rain returned after India’s early collapse, causing lengthy delays and leading to an early lunch. Play resumed briefly in the afternoon, but the disruptions persisted, with bad light ultimately ending the day prematurely.
Weather and Series Outlook
With rain forecast for the next two days, India’s chances of salvaging a draw have improved. A draw would leave the series tied at 1-1, setting up a decisive final Test in Melbourne. However, Australia’s commanding position puts the hosts firmly in control, while India faces an uphill battle to avoid defeat.
