India Vs Australia, 3rd Test Day 4 Highlights: IND Avoid Follow-on But Still 193 Runs Behind At Stumps

Welcome to the live coverage of day 4 of the 3rd Test between India and Australia at Brisbane's The Gabba stadium.

Another day with rain forecast and we could have another stop start kind of day. CLICK HERE to check the hourly weather for the day.

This morning, it is sunny at the Gabba so far. The forecast though has predicted showers even as it has improved. Let us see what is in store for the day.

Rain kept playing hide and seek yesterday and we had only limited play. But in that limited time, India slipped to a highly disadvantageous position. Australia scored 445 in their first innings. India lost four wickets cheaply and are still 394 runs away from Australia with KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma in the middle.

We will begin with today's action soon.

Okay then. We are ready to begin with the fourth day. Very important day for the game. Australia would want to force a result here. India would just like to play time. Players are out in the middle.

Pat Cummins with the ball. KL Rahul on strike.

First ball of the day and KL Rahul is dropped in the second slip by Steve Smith. What a start it could have been for the Aussies. Pat Cummins with a short of a length delivery which could have been left but Rahul hangs his bat for the ball. A thick edge that carries to Smith who somehow fumbles it. Big relief for India this.

Just one run off the first over of the day.

IND 52/4 (18)

First run for Rohit Sharma and he will be happy he has moved on from a Duck. Rohit takes 10 balls for his first run. Three runs from the second over of the day by Mitchell Starc.

IND 55/4 (19)

First boundary of the day for India and it comes from the bat of KL Rahul. Another confident shot. It is too full from Starc and Rahul leans into his square drive to get a boundary square of the wicket.

IND 61/4 (21)

Rohit Sharma is gone! Another failure for the Indian captain and he goes for 10 today. Length delivery just outside the off stump from the Australia captain Pat Cummins and Rohit goes fishing at it. He manages an edge to a ball he could have left and perishes. Trouble mounts for India at the Gabba.

IND 74/5 (23.3)

Half-century for KL Rahul. A really good innings from the opener when all of his teammates have struggled. Rahul has single handedly moved the scoreboard for India and he is batting beautifully. Taking his time, playing the ball late and compact shot selection have been the hallmarks of this innings. 17th Test fifty for KL. He would want to make it big but he needs support for that. He has now Ravindra Jadeja for company.

IND 83/5 (25)

Josh Hazlewood into the attack and KL Rahul greets him with a four. Short and wide from Hazlewood and Rahul finds the gap with his cut shot. Rahul moves into 60s now.

IND 94/5 (27)

It has been a tough outing for India but they have managed to get past 100. Rahul has been their main man and he is batting over 60 now. He needs support from the other end but can Jadeja provide it? Still 146 runs needed to avoid follow-on.

IND 100/5 (29)

Play stopped. Rain is back and we have the first break of the day. Players go off field and covers are on the ground.

IND 105/5 (30.5)

We are ready to begin once again as rain has disappeared and sunshine has taken over Gabba. Covers are gone now and the players walk back to continue from where they left.

IND 105/5 (30.5)

First boundary for Jadeja and the first boundary after the rain break. Jadeja goes for a sweep off Nathan Lyon and gets a pretty good connection to bring up a boundary. Good start from India after the break but they need to carry it on.

IND 109/5 (32)

Australia have some bad news. Josh Hazlewood, who returned from injury in this Test match, has once again gone for scans after problems with the calf. Big jolt for Australia. They might have to do without one full bowler now in this match.

IND 123/5 (35)

A solid stand between Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul. The partnership now goes beyond the 50-run mark, the first for India in this Test. Jadeja is at 18 and Rahul batting well on 77.

IND 126/5 (36)

Rahul almost played that ball on to the stumps. His heart would have been in his mouth for a moment. Starc bangs it short of a length and the ball rises a little more than Rahul expects. The ball hits the sticker of Rahul's bat and rolls just past the stumps.

Anyway, India get 4 runs from the 40th over. KL moves into 80s now.

IND 136/5 (40)

KL Rahul is gone!

Nathan Lyon gets the big fish and India lose their brightest batting star in this Test. Rahul looks to punch the ball from the backfoot but gets a thick outside edge and it looks like the ball will fly past the slip. But Steve Smith manages to stretch his hand out and pull off a stunning catch to hand Nathan Lyon his first wicket. Rahul takes the long walk back to the pavillion after scoring 84. India stare at follow on now.

IND 141/6 (42.3)

Just the second ball of his innings and Nitish Kumar Reddy bangs this Nathan Lyon delivery to the extra cover fence for a boundary. Confident start for the young lad from Hyderabad.

IND 145/6 (43)

So, the opening session of the fourth day ends and India have lost two big wickets even as the runs have kept coming. Rohit was dismissed early and then KL Rahul departed after a solid 84 via a stunning catch by Steve Smith in the slips. Jadeja and Reddy currently in the middle. Australia are a bowler short with Hazlewood suffering a calf issue. Things getting interesting. Follow on still 79 runs away.

IND 167/6 (49)

So, the break is over but we are still waiting as rain has returned and the play has been halted. Covers are on the ground but the rain is light as of now.

We will have an inspection in about 10 minutes. It was a heavy spell of rain. Covers are still there.

As per ESPNCricinfo, inspection is at 9:30am IST.

Play resumes soon. The drainage system at the Gabba is one of the best in the world and as soon as the rain stops, we get the game without much delay. Yet again we begin in a few minutes. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravindra Jadeja will be in the middle for India. India still need 79 runs to avoid the follow on.

Mitchell Starc with the ball for Australia and Ravindra Jadeja is the man on strike.

And we have a beautiful straight drive from Jadeja to begin with. Full from Starc and Jadeja shows full face of the bat to beat the diving mid-on fielder and India get a boundary right after the break.

Jadeja brings up his 22nd Test half-century in the very first over after the break. He has looked the most assured of Indian batter today alongside KL Rahul and another very crucial innings from Jadeja. He brings out his sword celebration and a big over from Starc as he concedes two boundaries and a total of nine runs.

IND 176/6 (50)

Just 17 balls of play and we have another disruption. The players are moving back as the drizzle has arrived again. Another frustrating chapter of wait coming up in this Test match.

IND 180/6 (51.5)

We will begins soon. Rain has stopped and the covers are off now. There is still some time for the Tea break,. Hopefully we get some uninterrupted play.

Starc to complete his over by bowling final ball to Nitish Reddy.

It is a full delivery which Nitish Reddy defends on the frontfoot. A dot ball and that will be the over. Nathan Lyon to bowl from the other end.

IND 180/6 (52)

Solid beginning for India after the break. Both Jadeja and Reddy are looking comfortable at the crease.

IND 186/6 (55)

Nitish Kumar Reddy gone!

Clean bowled. Cummins hits the target and Reddy will have to walk back. Good length ball around the off-stump. Reddy is a little loose with his shot and the ball catches the inside edge on its way to the stump. India lose another wicket. Follow on target still 52 runs away. Reddy departs for 16.

IND 194/7 (60)

The players are going back to the dressing room. Rain is back again. It has been a frustrating match for viewers and the players. Rain comes and it goes very soon. The drainage system makes the ground ready to play in minutes but as soon as the play begins the clouds return again. Really tough for everyone involved. The follow on target remains 45 runs away from India. Jadeja still batting at 65. Siraj giving him company at 1.

IND 201/7 (62.2)

They have decided to take the tea break. Good time to call for tea as the rain still continues. India lost Nitish Kumar Reddy in the small passage of play in between the rain but Jadeja still gives them hopes that they can avoid the follow on.

We are done with the tea and the play is set to resume now. Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja in the middle for India. Mitchell Starc with the ball for Australia. India still 45 runs away from avoiding follow-on.

Mohammed Siraj is gone! Fourth ball after the break and it is the end of Siraj. Mitchell Starc gets his third wicket. Siraj throws his bat at this full delivery and finds an edge. Alex Carey takes a good diving catch behind the stumps. Siraj back for 1. India hope for some Jadeja special.

IND 201/8 (63)

Ravindra Jadeja on the charge. Flighted delivery from Nathan Lyon and Jadeja bangs it straight down the ground for his first six of the innings. It had been a calculated innings from him till now but now Jadeja wants quick runs with only two men left for India.

IND 209/8 (65)

Ravindra Jadeja is gone! That might be it for India. Pat Cummins comes up with his fourth wicket and Jadeja's brilliant innings is stopped at 77. Jadeja swings hard towards mid-wicket but it is a mistimed shot. It goes high up in the air and Mitch Marsh completes a good catch in the deep. Jadeja is gone and India seem all set to follow on.

IND 213/9 (66)

Last pair on the crease and India still need 33 runs to force Australia to bat for the second time. Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep have both shown they can bat but up against Australian bowlers at the Gabba is a different challenge.

They manage to play out the over of Mitchell Starc.

IND 215/9 (67)

The partnership has now lasted six overs. India's last wicket stand is not giving up without a fight. Bumrah and Akash Deep are standing there and now India just need 12 more runs to avoid the follow on. Big overs coming up in the context of the match.

IND 234/9 (72)

Just five more runs needed for India to avoid a follow-on at the Gabba. It is getting tense. A good over from Pat Cummins but India steal seven runs with good running. Both Bumrah and Akash Deep have now crossed the 10-run mark.

IND 241/9 (73)

India avoid follow-on! Akash Deep gets a thick edge and the ball flies to the boundary for a four and India get to 246 to avoid batting again. Hand shakes in the Indian dressing room. Certainly India have avoided a defeat here with rain threat looming.

A big slog from Akash Deep and he will get a six for it. Fine connection off this length ball from Cummins and Akash Deep takes full toll of it. Indian players in the dressing room are now pumped up.

IND 252/9 (74.5)

IND 252/9 (74.5) trail AUS 445 by 193 runs.

Bad light has forced the umpires to call stumps and the players move back to the dressing room. A very interesting end to today's play.

What a thrilling end to the day we had. When Jadeja was dismissed as the ninth wicket, India were still 33 runs behind the follow on target. Follow on looked imminent but Akash Deep and Bumrah combined to deny Australia. The duo now walk back to the dressing room after helping India avoid the follow on. Relief in the Indian camp. A defeat now looks unlikely for them despite poor performance. Austraia would be gutted. They had the chance but they have fluffed it. India will begin the last day with a 193 runs in front of them.

Brief Scores:

Australia 1st Innings: 445

India 1st innings: 252 for 9 in 74.5 overs (KL Rahul 84; Ravindra Jadeja 77; Pat Cummins 4/80) trail by 193 runs

Another stop start day but we had some good action and thrill today. We will be back tomorrow. Do not forget to join. Thank you for following us today.