Australia will need a near-perfect end to the summer to return to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy without Josh Hazlewood, after India’s tail dashed any hopes of a victory for the hosts in Brisbane.

In a gripping end to the fourth day, Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep rescued India with an unbeaten 39-run final stand to avoid the sequel.

India still broke down soon after at 9-252 and a first innings deficit of 193, but with yet another rainy day in a rain-marred Brisbane match, the third Test is almost over.

Having been joined at the wicket when Ravindra Jadeja was dismissed with 33 still needed to avoid being asked to bat again, Bumrah (10no) and Deep (27) essentially saved the game for India.

This means both teams will likely head to Melbourne at 1-1, with India needing just one win in the final two Tests to retain the trophy as current holders.

“The only way to force the game was to enforce the follow-through,” Australian bowling coach Dan Vettori said.

“There was a desperation to get that last wicket and we thought we had a very good chance when Jadeja was dismissed.

“But it was a real fighting partnership between Bumrah and Deep.”

Hazlewood’s injury makes things worse for Australia.

He only played one on Tuesday after being injured in the warm-up, with scans since confirming he had suffered a calf strain and his test was over.

This left Pat Cummins (4-80) and Mitchell Starc (3-83) to bowl 44.5 overs between them in the Indian innings.

“Josh is one of the best bowlers in the world, so it obviously affects the team,” Vettori said.

“The weather allowed us to operate with breaks, it allowed Mitch and Patty to be able to come back several times.

“It was a tricky situation at the end where the ball was incredibly soft and wet.

“We tried to push them over long on to get that last wicket, that was probably the only time we felt they were slightly stretched out.”

After Starc took wickets in his first two overs on Monday, Cummins in particular was brilliant on a fourth day where more than two hours were lost to rain.

He should have had the wicket of KL Rahul in the first ball of the day when the Indian stonewaller sent a ball straight to Steve Smith at second slip, but the veteran missed the chance.

Rahul then added another crucial 51 runs and absorbed 75 more balls, before finally being caught superbly one-handed by Smith off the bowling of Lyon for 84.

Cummins effectively caught the out-of-form Indian captain Rohit Sharma in the 10th over with a ball that slanted and went away.

After Jadeja (77) played two long stands with Rahul and Nitish Kumar Reddy, it was Cummins who bowled the latter on 16.

And Cummins also had Jadeja caught by Mitch Marsh, leaving his ground behind as he attempted the all-rounder in a hook shot.

At this stage, India’s chances of avoiding the sequel looked slim, before the late exploits of No.10 Bumrah and No.11 Akash.

In fading light, Akash hit Cummins over the slips to clear the follow-up target, before tossing it deep into the stands on what turned out to be the last ball of the day.