IND vs AUS: Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep Save Follow-on After Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul Heroics on Day 4

India vs Australia: India's resilience shone on Day 4 of the third Test against Australia at The Gabba, Brisbane, as Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep's determined stand helped the visitors avoid the follow-on.

Trailing by 193 runs at stumps, India finished at 252/9, with Akash Deep (27*) and Bumrah (10*) holding the fort. Australia's pace spearhead Pat Cummins starred with figures of 4/80, supported by Mitchell Starc's three-wicket haul.

Jasprit Bumrah Akash Deep — Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah stitch a last-wicket partnership to save follow-on while Virat Kohli (right) reacts to a huge six by Akash Deep (Photos: Hotstar/Screenshot)

The day began with India at 167/6, trailing by a massive 278 runs. KL Rahul, the anchor of the innings, fell short of a century, dismissed for a well-compiled 84 by Nathan Lyon. His partnership with Ravindra Jadeja offered a glimmer of hope, but Jadeja's dismissal for 77 by Cummins left India teetering at 213/9. The Australian pacers maintained relentless pressure, and the follow-on seemed inevitable.

However, Bumrah and Akash Deep displayed grit and defiance. Bumrah's audacious six off Cummins and Akash's boundary underlined their determination. The pair added crucial runs, frustrating the Australian bowlers who had dominated much of the day. With just five runs needed to avoid the follow-on, Akash struck a decisive boundary, prompting jubilant celebrations in the Indian camp, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and senior batter Virat Kohli.

Earlier, Jadeja showcased his all-round brilliance, counter-attacking with poise despite losing partners at the other end. His aggressive stroke play, including a towering six off Lyon, kept India in the hunt. Unfortunately, the lower order struggled against Australia's pace barrage, with Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, and others falling cheaply.

Rain interruptions marked the day, reducing play and testing the focus of both teams. Despite these disruptions, Australia's bowlers kept their intensity high, particularly Cummins, who extracted bounce and movement to trouble the Indian batters.

As the match heads into Day 5, India's hopes of salvaging a draw hinge on their tailenders' ability to prolong their innings and challenge Australia's formidable lead. The hosts, meanwhile, will aim to capitalize on their strong position and push for a series-clinching victory.