The entertaining partnership between Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep for the 10th wicket stole the show on Day 4 as the duo saved India from follow-on and guided the side to 252/9 in 74.5 overs at stumps in the third Test against Australia on Tuesday.
India were in grave danger in the last session of the day when Ravindra Jadeja (77) got dismissed and were already 33 runs behind from the follow-on total. Akash joined his senior bowling mate in the middle and went onto play a memorable knock for India as the pair stitched an unbeaten 39-run partnership off 51 balls and frustrated Australia on the rain marred day.
Despite playing his first Test on foreign soil, Akash showed great commitment and determination to face Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins in the final session of the day. With Bumrah on the other end, Akash not only played cautiously but also hit Starc for four on cut. Before that, Bumrah also hit a six off Cummins over fine leg. In the last over of the session, Akash edged over gully to get a boundary off Cummins to avoid a follow-on which was celebrated by the Indian dressing room and the fans in the stadium. After winning the first battle, just a ball later, Akash opened his arms and smashed Cummins for a six over midwicket which left Virat Kohli and others in awe. Akash remained unbeaten on 27 off 31 balls while Bumrah went not out on 10 runs as stumps were called early due to bad lights.
India still trail by 193 runs and the possible result of the match depends on the weather conditions on Wednesday. Earlier, Jadeja's composed half-century dragged India to 201/7 at tea in the rain-interrupted second session.
India lost Nitish Kumar Reddy (16) and added 34 runs in 13.2 overs of the truncated session as the rain gods helped the touring party with regular interruptions since the start of play on Day 4. After lunch, Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy rode out the storm and tackled the Australian pacers well in the persons of Cummins and Starc as Josh Hazlewood's calf injury saw him only for one over in the day.
The pair saw out a 53-run partnership before Cummins got rid of Reddy on an inside edge that crashed into the stumps. In the first session of the day, Australia claimed two major wickets of Rohit Sharma (10) and Rahul (84) as India managed to score 116 runs against the scoreboard in the expanded opening session that witnessed 32 overs being bowled despite a brief rain stoppage.
It was not an ideal start for Australia as Steve Smith dropped Rahul on the first ball of the day at the second slip off Pat Cummins. Rahul was batting on 33 at that time and went on to add 51 more runs to his tally before Smith finally redeemed himself at first slip off Nathan Lyon.
Resuming from an overnight score of 51/4, India desperately needed someone to step up and show resilience. Rahul rose to the challenge and looked a class apart from his teammates. The Aussies set an attacking field with three slips and a gully, leaving gaps in the covers and point region, tempting Rahul to play his trademark drives.
However, he was wise enough not to fall for the trap. He came down the track only when the bowlers could pitch the ball into his driving zone. He scored his second half-century of the series. For Australia, Cummins and Starc shared seven wickets between them while Lyon and Hazlewood shared one scalp apiece. Brief scores: India 252/9 in 74.5 overs (KL Rahul 84, Ravindra Jadeja 77; Pat Cummins 4-80, Mitchell Starc 3-83) vs Australia 445 (Travis Head 152, Steve Smith 101; Jasprit Bumrah 6-76) by 193 runs.
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