Rain-hit India vs Australia Brisbane test ends in draw, series level 1-1

The third Test between Australia and India at the Gabba in Brisbane ended in a draw as persistent rain and poor light severely curtailed play across five days. The series now heads into the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne with the scoreline level.

The final day saw only 24.1 overs of play before the game was called off after Tea due to impending rain. India, set a target of 275 in approximately 54 overs, were 8/0 when the decision was made. The weather had been a disruptive factor throughout the match, allowing only 216.1 overs of action—equivalent to just midway through the third day under normal conditions.

Australia, having declared at 445 in their first innings, had the upper hand for most of the Test. India struggled at 74/5 in their reply but were saved by half-centuries from KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, along with a spirited 47-run last-wicket partnership between Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah. This effort helped the visitors avoid the follow-on, setting the stage for a rain-affected draw.

The Australian bowling attack suffered a blow as Josh Hazlewood pulled up with a calf strain, leaving them with just two frontline fast bowlers. Despite this setback, Australia pushed for a victory on the final day. In a frantic post-lunch session, the hosts batted aggressively to accelerate the scoring, declaring at 89/7 after Travis Head, Alex Carey, and Pat Cummins contributed quick runs.

India’s bowlers shone in the brief morning and afternoon sessions, with Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, and Mohammed Siraj combining to reduce Australia to 33/5. Bumrah, in particular, dismissed Usman Khawaja for the fourth time in the series, maintaining his dominance over the batter.

Ultimately, the weather proved to be the decisive factor, frustrating Australia’s attempts to force a win while allowing India to escape with a draw. The series remains evenly poised heading into the fourth Test.