Despite many rain interruptions, which can be a driving factor for possible draw result of the crucial Brisbane Test, the fourth day of the Test match was full of thriller. The visitors India just managed to save the follow-on and it was a completely thrilling moment in the dressing room which made the former Indian captain Virat Kohli very excited. 

With the help of Steven Smith (101) and Travis Head’s (152) centuries and Alex Carey’s 70,  Australia were all out for 445 runs in the first innings after the Indian captain Rohit Sharma chose to field first in the Gabba Test. 

In reply, India ended the third day of the Test match at 51/4. Early on the fourth day, captain Rohit Sharma (10) lost his wicket to the Aussie skipper Pat Cummins as the visitors were struggling at 74/5 and the follow-on scare was there.

KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja brought the hope

While opener KL Rahul was solid with the bat, except for providing an opportunity on the first ball of the day, Ravindra Jadeja gave him solid support. They had a 67-run partnership before Rahul was dismissed for 84 runs by Steven Smith’s incredible catch. 

After Rahul was out, in-form batter Nitish Kumar Reddy provided another support to Ravindra Jadeja. They had a 53-run partnership for the eighth wicket, and Reddy was out after scoring 16 runs. 

While Mohammed Siraj lost his wicket for one run, Jadeja lost his wicket after bravely fighting with 77 runs off 123 balls with the help of seven fours and one six. At that point, India scored 213/9, and they still required 32 more runs to avoid the follow-on.

See Also: Will Australia miss Hazlewood for the remaining BGT?

Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep did the job perfectly

The last two batters Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep didn’t lose their hope. The last moments were very thrilling where Akash Deep ultimately rescued the visitors by officially avoiding the follow-on with a boundary to Cummins over the gully fielder.   

While India avoided follow-on with that boundary, Kohli and the head coach Gautam Gambhir had a passionate high-five. Kohli also had another passionate celebration with the skipper Rohit Sharma.

Akash Deep then slammed a sixer to Cummins. Soon, the day ended after the bad light interrupted the game once again.  

Akash Deep makes sure India avoid the follow-on and then smashes Pat Cummins into the second level!#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/HIu86M7BNW

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 17, 2024

#TeamIndia have avoided the follow-on. AUSTRALIA WILL HAVE TO BAT AGAIN!#AUSvINDOnStar 👉 3rd Test, Day 5 | 18th DEC, WED, 5:15 AM on Star Sports! #ToughestRivalry #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/DqW3C9DMJX

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 17, 2024

THE SHOW-STOPPER AKASH DEEP! 😎#AUSvINDOnStar 👉 3rd Test, Day 5 | 18th DEC, WED, 5:15 AM! #ToughestRivalry #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/Yi8RQxoqhK

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 17, 2024