Border Gavaskar Trophy: Rain has the ultimate say as India manage a draw in Gabba Test

The hopes of Australia to impose a lead on the visitors were thwarted, thanks to the rain playing in favor of India. The final day of the third Border Gavaskar Trophy Test concluded with the persistent downpour allowing just 24.1 overs of play. In the meantime, Australia quickly dismissed Akash Deep to wrap up the Indian innings with a 185-run lead. While the Kangaroos seemed to work seamlessly on their plans, following the trend throughout the Brisbane Test, rain halted the start of their second innings with the bat. The rain consumed whatever was left of the first session before the Kangaroos finally arrived to bat after lunch wrapped up.

The MVP of the BGT so far, Jasprit Bumrah, drew first blood as he bowled out Usman Khawaja in the third over. The Indian pacers showed urgency, dismissing Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, and Mitchell Marsh in quick succession, reducing the Kangaroos to 28 for 4. Their arch-nemesis, Travis Head, meanwhile, kept piling on the lead as he found the boundary ropes consistently. However, Mohammed Siraj came through as he trapped the batter, who top-edged the delivery just for it to land in the keeper’s gloves. Effectively, Siraj sent Smith and Head back to the dugout as Pat Cummins joined Alex Carey at the crease. The declaration finally came in the 18th over following Cummins’ dismissal by Bumrah. Australia called India to chase 275, hoping for the clouds to keep mum until the session ended.

Previously, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja batted tenaciously to decrease the follow-on scare. Later in the innings, Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah, batting for the last wicket, put on a splendid effort with the bat as a four from Akash’s bat evaded the follow-on for India. Day 3 wrapped up with the tailender sending a delivery by Pat Cummins flying to the stands. KL Rahul returned to bat with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the 235-run chase at the cloud-covered Gabba.

Border Gavaskar Trophy remains poised at 1-1 as Gabba Test ends in a draw

While India put on a gritty defense and Australia, despite being short of Josh Hazlewood, remained favorites for the victory, rain had the last say in Brisbane. The entire course of the third Border Gavaskar Trophy Test was marred by the heavy cloud cover at the Gabba. The opening day was washed out with just 13.2 overs completed. The next day was all about Travis Head hitting another ton against his favorite attack and Smith regaining his form with a century of his own.

The rest of the Test match was just the players squeezing in time from the frustratingly consistent breaks imposed by the rain. If not for the downpour, bad light would seize the day’s play early, eating up crucial overs. For India, a draw seemed the best-case scenario, which eventually happened. Australia, however, had the chance to go 2-1 against the visitors, who have not allowed them a claim on the BGT for a decade now.

Now, India and Australia will head to Melbourne for the fourth Test with the Border Gavaskar Trophy level at 1-1. India’s fightback to defy the follow-on at the Gabba is sure to warn Australia of their abilities. Meanwhile, the visitors have earned a chance to still impose a lead even after disappointing performances in the Adelaide Test and for most of the Gabba Test.

The draw at the Gabba, however, has taken a backseat as India’s legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket. Upon his retirement, Ashwin was etched as the highest wicket-taker in the longer format among active players, with 537 wickets to his name. However, the seasoned spinner marked the end of an era, which witnessed him and Ravindra Jadeja ushering in a golden phase of Indian Test cricket at home.