• Source:JND
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On a rain-disrupted day three of the third Test at the Gabba, India struggled to make headway, limping to a precarious 51 for 4 as Australia seized control of the match, putting themselves in a commanding position as the Indian batting lineup faltered.

By Stumps, India's score read 51/4, with skipper Rohit Sharma (0*) and KL Rahul (33*) standing unbeaten in the middle. Rain hung around Brisbane for the most part of the day, and in the end, the play was officially called off after the sixth interruption.

A formidable Australian pace trio, comprising Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and captain Pat Cummins, combined to devastating effect, leaving India in a precarious position at 48/4.

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After Australia ended their first innings at 445, India's top order flattered to deceive, throwing away their wickets to end the day in a precarious position.

After Australia racked in nearly 450 runs, left-arm pacer Starc struck twice and Josh Hazlewood once as the two teams took an early lunch with the visitors reeling at 22 for three.

Pat Cummins got the big wicket of Rishabh Pant in the second session to make matters worse for the Indians. Returning to the middle after the lunch break, Rahul and Pant faced some hostile fast bowling from the duo of Starc and Hazlewood before heavy showers interrupted the proceedings, one of the many on the day.

Cummins kept three slips and a gully for Pant, as opposed to the four men in the slip cordon, and a gully for Rahul, when Hazlewood was operating. Starc had three slips, and two gullies when he had the red cherry in his hand.

The only fielder in front of the wicket during that phase of play in the second session was the man stationed at mid-off, reflecting the Australian bowlers' dominance.

Starc removed Yashasvi Jaiswal in the second ball of the India innings and then dismissed Shubman Gill before Hazlewood accounted for Kohli as the visitors once again stared down the barrel after their failures in Adelaide.

Jaiswal was out caught by Mitchell Marsh at short mid-wicket while he tried to clip a Starc half-volley off his pads. Gill was sent back when Marsh pulled off a brilliant catch in the slip cordon off the bowling of Starc after the India number three played away from the body.

Kohli was dismissed in what has now become a familiar scene as he once again chased a length delivery outside off before nicking it to Alex Carey.

Starc too had a hand in the wicket of Kohli. After KL Rahul pulled a short ball from Hazlewood to long leg, Starc dived to save what seemed like a certain boundary, bringing the former Indian captain back on strike. Kohli was dismissed off the very next delivery.

This was after Hazlewood delivered a full-length ball outside off-stump to Kohli, who, instead of leaving the ball, attempted a drive, resulting in an outside edge. This is the fourth time Kohli has been dismissed in such a fashion. 

India need to reach 246 to avoid the follow-on. The visitors trail by 394 runs.

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Earlier, Australia added 40 runs to their overnight total. The pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep picked a wicket each to stop the hosts from reaching 450.

Brief Scores:

Australia 1st Innings: 445 all out in 117.1 overs (Travis Head 152, Steve Smith 101; Jasprit Bumrah 6/76) vs India 1st innings: 51 for 4 in 17 overs (KL Rahul 33 batting; Mitchell Starc 2/25).

(With PTI Inputs)