Australia vs India, 3rd Test: Rain Forces Draw in Brisbane, Series Tied 1-1

The third Test between Australia and India at the Gabba concluded in a draw as rain continued to disrupt play on Day 5. Persistent showers left no chance for further action, keeping the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tied at 1-1.

After declaring their second innings at 89/7, Australia had set a target of 275 for India to chase in 54 overs. However, inclement weather, coupled with bad light, prevented the visitors from launching a chase, leaving the match evenly poised heading into the Boxing Day Test.

Australia’s second innings faltered under the pressure of India’s pace attack. Jasprit Bumrah spearheaded the charge with three wickets, while Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj chipped in with two wickets each. Despite their struggles, skipper Pat Cummins showed resistance with a counter-attacking 22, supported by Alex Carey’s unbeaten 20.

Australia’s batting woes in the second innings were in stark contrast to their first-innings total of 445, which featured a game-changing 241-run stand between Travis Head and Steve Smith. Head, named Player of the Match for his first-innings century, downplayed concerns about a groin injury and assured fans of his availability for the next game.

In a surprise announcement, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin confirmed his retirement from international cricket during the post-match presentation. Ashwin, who played 106 Tests, took 537 wickets, and scored 3,503 runs, stated, “This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer. I’ve had a lot of fun and will continue to play at the club level.” His decision, reminiscent of MS Dhoni’s abrupt Test retirement in 2014, caught fans off guard.

Though the match ended in a draw, India walked away with a morale boost, thanks to their resilience with both bat and ball. The team avoided a follow-on in the first innings due to a spirited last-wicket partnership between Bumrah and Akash Deep. The duo also impressed with the ball in the second innings, restricting Australia to a modest declaration.

Rohit Sharma, India’s skipper, praised the team’s efforts, highlighting the contributions of the pacers and the young opening duo of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Both showed promise in their brief stay at the crease before rain interrupted play.

With the series tied, all eyes now turn to the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.