NEW DELHI: Persistent rain made a big impact on the opening day of the third Test match between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane. Only 13.2 overs were possible on Saturday.
Australia finished the day at 28 without loss, with Usman Khawaja on 19 and Nathan McSweeney on 4. The umpires were forced to call off play for the day during the final session due to the persistent rain.
Scorecard: India vs Australia, 3rd Test
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, won the toss and chose to field. He hoped the overcast conditions and the grassy pitch would favour his pace bowlers.
India’s pacers, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, initially struggled to find their rhythm. Bumrah, in particular, seemed to be bowling at a slower pace than usual. Akash Deep, playing his first Test of this series, impressed after the first rain delay. He troubled McSweeney with movement both off the pitch and through the air.
Rain interrupted play 25 minutes into the morning session, causing a half-hour delay. After the resumption, Deep and Siraj began to extract some movement from the pitch. However, heavy showers returned, forcing another stoppage.
The persistent rain left the outfield resembling a lake at one point. Fortunately, the drainage system worked efficiently, minimizing damage before more rain ultimately ended play for the day.
The series is currently tied at 1-1. India won the first Test in Perth, while Australia secured a convincing victory in the second Test in Adelaide.
Live from Brisbane: Crazy rain stops play | Forecast not good for third India-Australia Test
Both teams made changes to their lineups for this pivotal match.
India included Ravindra Jadeja and Akash Deep, replacing Ravichandran Ashwin and Harshit Rana. Australia welcomed back Josh Hazlewood, who replaced Scott Boland.
Play will commence 30 minutes earlier on each of the remaining four days to compensate for the lost time. The aim is to bowl 98 overs each day.
Despite the rescheduling, rain remains a potential disruptor, especially on days four and five. The weather forecast for the remaining days of the Test match predicts further showers, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the game’s progression.