Ravindra Jadeja’s desperate attempts at stonewalling the Australian attack and persisting for 77 runs in a rain-affected Test at the Gabba played a crucial role inIndia avoiding follow-on. KL Rahul’s crucial 84 runs was a big factor as well. In the end, Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep battled it out to ensure safety.
When Jadeja fell, India were 213/9 and had the daunting task of scoring 33 more to avoid follow-on. Tailenders Bumrah and Akash Deep fought it out for near nine overs to take India to 252/9 at stumps.
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Akash Deep brought about huge cheers around the stadium and in the Indian dressing room when his punch jab at an outside off delivery from Pat Cummins ran away for four.
Those celebrations got louder a ball later when Akash Deep smacked a massive six towards mid-wicket.
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Jadeja provided the battle late into the India innings with a 123-ball stay in the middle. Earlier, KL Rahul had scored 84 runs from 139 balls to provide some fight against the Australian seam bowling attack.
Earlier, it appeared that India were set to be asked to follow-on with the batters and allrounders in the pavillion.
Had India fallen short of the necessary 245 runs, it would have been the first time India would have been asked to bat again by an opposition since England in August 2011 at The Oval. Meanwhile, it would have been the first time India would have been put to follow-on by Australia since the famous Test win at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2001.
In the 2011 Test against England, India had fallen 291 runs short of England’s 591/6 declared. In their second essay, India were bowled out for 283 runs and lost the Test by an innings and 8 runs.
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At the Gabba, Jadeja justified his selection ahead of R Ashwin and Washington Sundar, not with the ball but with the bat.
Jadeja struck his 22nd Test fifty off 89 balls and the innings was also dotted with sweep shots that he effectively employed against off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
KL Rahul, meanwhile, was the pick of the Indian batting. He displayed admirable technical nous to withstand the stern test posed by the Australian bowlers, making a resolute fifty.
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KL Rahul’s stay in the middle was disrupted when he fell to a remarkably athletic catch by Steve Smith at first slip off Lyon, as the hosts regained momentum.
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