Images from Day 4 of the third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane on Tuesday.
KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja were determination personified as their fighting fifties helped India avoid the follow-on on the fourth day of the weather-hit third Test that seems meandering towards a draw.
Jadeja (77, 123b, 7x4, 1x6) and Rahul (84, 139, 8x4) were the heavy-lifters in India's 252 for nine when bad light forced a early close to the day.
Jasprit Bumrah (10) and Akash Deep (27), who showed appreciable gumption, are holding the fort for India.
The visitors trail Aussies by 193 runs.
But India wouldn't mind that one bit as Australia will now have to bat again and forcing a result in three sessions looks an improbable target, considering the Brisbane weather pattern.
The city is bracing up for rain and a thunderstorm or two on Wednesday.
A quick word of appreciation is also required for No. 10 Bumrah and No. 11 Akash Deep for knocking down the 33 runs required to go past the follow-on mark of 246.
The much-awaited moment came when Akash crunched Pat Cummins over gully for a boundary.
When these two joined forces, India were reeling at 213 for 9 after Jadeja was dismissed off a Cummins' snorter.
Bumrah and Akash added 39 runs to put the smiles back on their faces, as Aussies dearly missed the metronomical Josh Hazlewood, who was ruled out of the series with a calf injury.
Ravindra Jadeja stonewalled the Australian bowlers with a characteristically doughty fifty, carrying India to 201 for seven at tea on a rain-interrupted fourth day of the third Test in Brisbane on Tuesday.
Jadeja (65 batting, 109b, 6x4) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (16, 61b) added 53 runs for the seventh wicket, ensuring that KL Rahul's classy 84 will not go in vain.
India still trail the hosts by 244 runs, but more importantly, they are 45 runs closer to avoiding the follow-on and forcing the Aussies to bat again, which will all but ensure a drawn match.
Mohammed Siraj, who was promoted to No. 8, is giving company to Jadeja on 1.
Jadeja showed the value he brings to the table as a batter.
In Australia, Jadeja now averages over 54 and his last four innings on these shores are: 65 not out, 28 not out, 57 and 81.
The 36-year-old scored a good chunk of runs either down the ground or square of the wicket, enabling him to collect the runs without the risk of getting caught behind or in the cordon.
Jadeja brought up his 22nd fifty in Test cricket off 89 balls and the innings was also dotted with sweep shots that he effectively employed against off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
Nitish should also be patted for giving some solid company to Jadeja as batting for time was of more importance than the volume of runs considering the weather pattern in Brisbane.
However, a slice of misfortune ended Nitish's stay as he dragged Pat Cummins's climbing delivery back onto his stumps, moments before the teams dispersed for tea after yet another rain interruption.
K L Rahul withstood a stern test by Australia’s bowlers with a resolute fifty before India went for lunch on an underwhelming 167 for 6 on Day 4 of the third Test in Brisbane on Tuesday.
His gritty 84 off 139 balls, which included 8 fours, and an equally feisty 41 (77 balls, 4x4) by Ravindra Jadeja raised 67 runs for the sixth wicket before he fell to a remarkably athletic catch by Steve Smith at first slip off Nathan Lyon, as the home side regained the momentum.
Nitish Kumar Reddy (7) was the other not out batter at the end of the first session that was impeded by a short spell of rain an hour into the day’s play.
India still trail Australia by 278 runs.
Resuming at their overnight scored of 51 for 4, India needed someone to put his hands up and show some fight, and Rahul rose to the occasion.
There was a moment of good fortune for the batter when Smith spilled a regulation catch at second slip off the first delivery of the day from Pat Cummins.
Rahul was on 33 then. A quick look upwards and a silent prayer showed how much he valued that reprieve, which he exploited to the hilt.
Once he woke up from a bit of morning haziness, he looked a class apart from the rest of his teammates.
The Aussies employed three slips and gully, leaving vast expanse of the ground for him to play his favourite shot — drive through the cover or in front of the point.
But Rahul was prudent enough to see through that ruse. He did not bring out that shot until the bowlers pitched the ball well up in his driving arc.
The Bengaluru man's sagacity shone bright in how he defended too — all soft hands and playing close to the body.
Cummins tested him with that fifth stump line outside off, but Rahul either left the ball wisely or merely tucked his bat behind his pads.
Perhaps, he has been watching the footages of Cheteshwar Pujara on how to tire out the Aussie pacers.
However, skipper Rohit Sharma (10) would rue missing out of another chance to play an impact innings Down Under.
He looked comfortable out there, showing patience to wait for the ball of his choice to play a shot, but, eventually, the 37-year-old was drawn into that no-feet movement shot, his bane throughout this series.
Cummins pitched one close to the off-stump and Rohit poked at it with hard hands for Alex Carey to do the rest behind the stumps.
However, the absence of pacer Josh Hazlewood, who left the field after bowling just one awkward over, reduced the intensity of Australia’s attack.
Later, Cricket Australia clarified that Hazlewood, who missed the second Test at Adelaide with a side strain, will undergo scans to determine the extent of a calf niggle.
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