India narrowly avoided the follow-on on Day 4 of the third Test of the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia at The Gabba, Brisbane, thanks to an unbeaten 39-run partnership between Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah. The lower-order duo’s resilience came at a crucial time, helping India stay in the game despite their top-order struggles.
KL Rahul’s Valiant Effort and Praise for Lower-Order Heroics
India’s batting lineup faced challenges, with only KL Rahul standing out in the top order. Continuing his impressive form in Australian conditions, Rahul played a valiant knock of 84 runs. However, it was the unexpected contribution from Akash Deep and Bumrah that became the highlight of the innings.
Speaking at the press conference, KL Rahul praised the bowlers for their batting efforts and revealed his initial concern about a possible follow-on.
“I was thinking more about going and padding up and trying to go back to bat. Probably you don’t know, I’m not sure if they would have enforced the follow-on. So I was thinking about what I need to do with my batting,” Rahul shared.
Rahul lauded the lower-order duo, emphasizing the importance of such partnerships. “It’s really good to see that they could go there and get that little partnership and avoid the follow-on. Makes a huge difference,” he said.
Hard Work in Nets Pays Off for Indian Bowlers
The Indian team has been focusing on improving their lower-order batting, and the efforts seem to be paying dividends. KL Rahul highlighted how the bowlers have been putting in extra time in the nets to prepare for challenging situations.
“But like I said, it’s always nice to see your bowlers going out there scoring some runs. They really put in the work in the nets. They work really hard and when it mattered today, I’m happy that they could really play some shots,” Rahul added.
The final moments of Day 4 saw Akash Deep and Bumrah face Australia’s relentless pace attack with grit. Rahul appreciated their courage, saying, “The last half an hour they batted that part, not just the runs that they got, just the heart that they showed to keep away the bouncers.”
Also Read: KL Rahul Outshines Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Test Performances in SENA Countries
Rain and Resilience Keep India in the Game
With rain playing a role in disrupting the game, avoiding the follow-on has given India a fighting chance. Rahul acknowledged the importance of staying in the contest and credited the bowlers for their determination.
“Knowing that there’s a bit of rain around and so much of the game has been lost today, we need to find a way to stay in the game. And I think Akash and Bumrah did that at the end,” he concluded.
The efforts of Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah not only kept India in the match but also showcased the growing depth and determination in the squad, proving once again the importance of contributions from every player.