December 18, 2024: The third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia ended in a dramatic draw, with weather playing a crucial role in preventing a result and leaving the series finely poised at 1-1. Despite a valiant effort from Australia to set a challenging target, heavy rain and frequent interruptions frustrated both teams and ensured that no result could be achieved.
“The play has been abandoned in Brisbane and the match is drawn. After the Third Test, the series is evenly poised at 1-1,” BCCI wrote on X.
Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, made a bold declaration at 89/7, setting India a target of 275 runs to win. The move was intended to force a result, but the weather had other plans. India’s openers, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, showed resilience, with both players looking in good touch before rain halted proceedings. The pair faced the fiery Australian bowling attack, including Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, and kept India’s hopes alive with some solid shots. However, the ongoing rain interruptions and worsening weather meant they couldn’t chase the target.
Earlier in the match, Australia posted a hefty total of 455 runs, thanks to Travis Head’s stunning 152 and Steven Smith’s important 101. India’s reply was a challenging one, as Starc and Cummins reduced India to a precarious position. The Australian bowlers were in full force, with Josh Hazlewood claiming the key wicket of Virat Kohli, though Hazlewood was later forced to leave the field due to injury.
India’s recovery came largely through KL Rahul’s composed 84 and a crucial partnership with Ravindra Jadeja (77). Despite this, India still struggled to avoid the follow-on, which seemed a real possibility. However, the tail, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep, fought back admirably. Their efforts ensured India passed the follow-on mark, saving the Test and keeping the series alive.
On Day 5, the game entered a waiting phase with persistent rain, and only 24 balls were possible before more rain came and ended any chance of a result. The Australian bowlers, including Nathan Lyon and Travis Head, kept applying pressure, but Akash Deep‘s spirited 31(44) was finally cut short when he was dismissed in a brilliant piece of wicketkeeping by Alex Carey, confirming the draw.
In the end, the match was a tale of missed opportunities, with both teams showing glimpses of brilliance but never able to fully capitalize due to the weather. For India, Bumrah and Akash Deep played key roles in saving the Test, with Bumrah‘s 3 wickets for 18 runs leading the way in Australia’s second innings. The rain delays overshadowed what could have been a thrilling conclusion, leaving the series tied and adding more intrigue as the teams head into the final two Tests.
The weather played a crucial role, but the fierce competition continues, and the final two Tests are set to be crucial in deciding the winner of the series.
