The third Test match between India and Australia at the Gabba has turned out to be more of a weather report than cricket match updates, as rain continues to plague the proceedings and significantly hinders gameplay. After three days of play, the match has been interrupted by rain multiple times, tallying just over 30 overs bowled on Day 3 alone, with only 25 overs possible earlier on the same day.
By the end of Day 3, India sits precariously at 51 for 4, still trailing Australia’s colossal first-innings score of 445 runs. A triumphant start from Australia, bolstered by centuries from players like Travis Head and Steve Smith, set the stage, but their batting glory was somewhat overshadowed by Brisbane's relentless storms.
At the day’s start, Australia wrapped up their first innings with Alex Carey’s 70 runs pushing the total to 445, having scored 40 runs on Day 3. Yet, from the outset of India’s response, rain began to patter down again, creating interruptions. Mitchell Starc struck early, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal with just the second ball, and with wickets tumbling quickly, including Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, India struggled to gain momentum as the ever-present clouds loomed above.
Post-lunch, rain continued its unruly dance, forcing play to be halted repeatedly. The last set of play lasted only seven balls before the players were ushered back to the dressing room, leaving India vulnerable at 48 for 4 and with limited time to stabilize their innings before the inevitable return of the rain. Following the rain interruptions, only 33.1 overs had been achievable, and it seems the chances of having another fully played day are grim.
The Brisbane weather forecast remains decidedly bleaker, with the Brisbane City Council warning residents to brace for more showers and potential minor flooding over the next days. According to Steve Hadley from the local weather bureau, “From around Monday to Wednesday this week, we could see a lot of cloud cover, [a] really high chance of showers, and maybe minor flooding in certain areas as well.” The prediction of 15 to 20 millimeters of rain daily is disheartening for players and fans alike.
Should the rain keep falling, both teams might find themselves at the mercy of the weather gods. Cricket enthusiasts are longing for the action to see where India can turn their fortunes around. They hope for significant contributions from players to stay afloat during this tough phase. Jasprit Bumrah has been the standout performer with the ball for India, claiming six wickets for 76 runs, showcasing why he’s considered one of the top bowlers. Yet, his efforts seem overshadowed with the batting order faltering when it needed to deliver.
Bumrah’s performance is especially significant as it stands against the backdrop of India’s first-innings struggles. All eyes are now on KL Rahul, who ended the day unbeaten on 30, as well as the captain, Rohit Sharma, who has yet to score. The pressure mounts for the Indian side, who need to rescue not just their innings but also their standing in the series, which currently sits at 1-1 after India’s dominating win at Perth and Australia’s resurgence at Adelaide.
With only marginal instances of play recorded since the Test’s onset, it remains to be seen how much the teams can recover and produce resilience amid these unpredictable climate conditions. Rain forecast for the fourth and fifth days range from 90% to 100%, indicating great odds against any hope for uninterrupted play. Recent predictions indicate morning showers and subsequent coverage throughout the afternoons, painting a grim picture for the last two days.
Both teams have their trials to endure—Australia, with hopes of capitalizing on their lead to dominate India and take the series, and India, who needs rain to cooperate to aid their quest for survival. Cricket, after all, can be funny sometimes! The series will continue later this week with the potential for the weather to decide the fate of the Gabba Test.
Fans of both teams will now be watching with bated breath to see if the rain gods shine favorably upon them or if they continue to play spoilsport, leading to uncertain outcomes. With only 18 more wickets standing between Australia and their victory, the tension mounts, knowing the weather could rewrite the script for this tightly contested series.
