During a late spell on day four at the Gabba, a test match that suffered endless stoppages due to rain came to life as one of the sport’s curiosities was on full display – a team miles behind in the competition, but cheered as if they were winning. A game within a game.

When Ravindra Jadeja got hooked Patrick Cummins at deep square leg, where he was brilliantly caught by Mitchell Marsh, India still needed 33 to avoid the follow-on as Deep Akash (Test average 6.42) left to join Jasprit Bumrah (Test average 6.97).

“At that point I was thinking more about going and getting stronger and trying to get back to bat, probably,” KL Rahul » declared after the match, without disrespecting his two teammates present in the enclosure.

For Australia, what followed was the most realistic path to victory given the time already lost and the rain forecast for the final day.

“There was a desperation to get that last wicket and we thought we had a very good chance when Jadeja was dismissed,” the assistant coach said. Daniel Vettori said.

Bumrah hooked Cummins for six to take a useful share of the runs needed, a day after he referred to his batting ability when told he might not be the right person to discuss the issues of the the higher order of India.

“It’s interesting that you question my batting abilities,” he said with a smile after the third day of play. “You should use Google and see who got the most runs in the of a test.”

This of course referred to his 35 points against Stuart Broad at Edgbaston in 2022, but he wasn’t going to try to salvage the sequel that way. Against relatively deep pitches, he and Akash Deep reduced the required runs as the Indian fans among a small crowd grew increasingly excited, with advanced defenses and backfoot blocks cheering among the valuable runs.

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KL Rahul on Akash Deep-Bumrah show: ‘I was thinking about padding’

Rahul impressed “not just with the runs they made, but also with the heart they showed to keep the bouncers away”

Occasionally, however, they tried their luck with Akash Deep scything a boundary to the deep third off Mitchell Starc and he also struck a brace to bring India closer. But with five needed to save the over, he almost dragged himself onto his stumps as he looked to flay Starc. A message came from the locker room.

“(You) don’t have to try and do it with a limit,” Rahul revealed as instruction. “You could always do it, get those singles back, they would expand the field. So the singles were there for the taking. So (it was) just to stay a little bit more patient, because we saw right before the message went was broadcast, Akash tried, I don’t know where he tried to hit, but he tried to hit a boundary so (it was) just a message to calm him down and see if they could get five or six singles. and (avoid) the rest.”

Vettori acknowledged that the last two Indian batters belied their career bests, but that didn’t come as a surprise.

“Don’t think we’re assuming anyone will live up to their average,” Vettori said. “I think you look at those averages and you think there’s not much there, but Bumrah has proven he can build partnerships, proven he can attack and defend, and Akash Deep is better than a No. 11.”

With four needed, Akash Deep did so with a boundary, although it was luckier than the case where he ignored the advice as he speared a short delivery from Starc, which flew past the leaping Nathan McSweeney at gully.

A roar went up from the Indian fans as if they had won the match. In the dressing room, Virat Kohli shared high-fives and captain Rohit Sharma had a huge smile on his face.

“It’s always nice to see your bowlers score a few runs,” Rahul said. “They really did some work in net. And when it mattered today, I’m happy that they were able to really play some shots, and some really exciting shots. And it was a great fight at the end. The last half hour they batted, not just the runs they got, just the heart they showed to keep the bouncers away. There’s a lot of pace and bounce in the wicket.

To top it all off for India, Akash Deep, now free of some pressure, dropped Cummins at long-on for a massive six-two before poor light ended play for the last time of the day. Normally a 193-run deficit is nothing to celebrate, and Australia have been the better team by far, but you never know how important those few overs could turn out to be.