KL Rahul was full of admiration for his teammates, particularly Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah, after their impressive 10th-wicket partnership allowed India to avoid the follow-on in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane. The dressing room erupted in celebrations as the lower-order batters defied the Australian attack, with coach Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli leading the jubilant response. Rahul, who played a pivotal role in India’s recovery, expressed his joy and outlined the significance of this moment for the team, which was a key morale boost heading into the remaining two Tests of the series.
KL Rahul revealed that, despite being in a precarious position, he had been mentally preparing to bat again as uncertainty lingered over whether Australia would enforce the follow-on after the injury of Josh Hazlewood, one of their senior pacers. Rahul explained how the team had been working on ensuring that the lower-order batters could contribute significantly when called upon. The partnership between Akash Deep and Bumrah was a testament to that hard work, as they bravely faced off against the Australian bowlers, putting together a gritty 39-run partnership, which helped India finish the fourth day’s play at 252 for 9, successfully avoiding the follow-on and putting themselves in a position where they could not lose the Test.
"It’s incredibly rewarding when the lower-order batters chip in and score runs, especially in such crucial moments," Rahul shared. "This is something we talk about in our team meetings all the time. The bowlers put in a lot of effort to improve their batting skills, and it’s fantastic to see that hard work paying off when it matters most. Avoiding the follow-on is a huge boost for us. With the weather conditions looking uncertain, we needed to find a way to stay in the game, and Akash and Bumrah stepped up brilliantly to do that. It was the perfect way to end the day for us."
Rahul also highlighted the bravery and resilience shown by both Akash and Bumrah as they fought off bouncers and defended solidly, even playing some well-timed shots. "It was a fascinating contest in the last half-hour of the day. It wasn’t just about the runs they scored but the way they stood up to the challenge. The heart they showed, the way they got behind the ball to defend, and the confidence to play shots when needed was impressive. They showed maturity beyond their experience, and that will give them a lot of confidence moving forward. More importantly, it will lift the entire team's morale, as it reinforces the belief that everyone is capable of stepping up in tough situations."
The contrasting emotions in the two camps after the partnership's success spoke volumes. While the Indian team was visibly elated, the Australian players were deflated, fully aware they had missed a golden opportunity to put India under significant pressure. Despite posting a mammoth 445 in their first innings, Australia had failed to capitalize on what seemed like a moment of dominance. Rahul noted the shift in momentum, saying, "You could see how the mood changed in both camps. For us, the emotions were uplifting – we knew we had found a way to stay in the game. For Australia, they would have been disappointed because they knew this was a moment they should have seized."
Rahul also shed light on the message sent from the team management to Akash and Bumrah during their partnership. As the follow-on target loomed, the leadership felt Akash was being a bit too aggressive in his approach, trying to hit boundaries when singles were available. Rahul explained the strategy behind the message that was relayed from the change room: "It was a simple message – get the runs, but you don’t have to do it with boundaries every time. The field was spread, and there were singles to be had. Before the message was sent, Akash tried to hit a boundary, but the advice was to calm down and just take the singles on offer, not to take unnecessary risks." Despite the caution, Akash responded by hitting a boundary and, later, a towering six off Pat Cummins, a moment that added to the dressing room's jubilation.
However, before Akash could add further runs, the umpires called off the play due to bad light, and the session ended. Nevertheless, the partnership had already achieved its primary objective of ensuring India avoided the follow-on, which was a significant psychological victory for the team.
Earlier in the day, Rahul had been at the forefront of India’s recovery with a gritty knock of 84 runs, which was crucial in helping the team recover from a dire position of 74 for 5. Rahul was fortunate to get a reprieve when Steve Smith dropped him off the first ball of the day’s play. However, Rahul quickly put that moment behind him, focusing on the job at hand. His knock, which came with a mix of determination and composure, was a shining example of resilience under pressure. Rahul shared a key 67-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja for the sixth wicket, which further helped India stabilize their innings and recover from what was a tricky phase in the match.
Despite the frequent rain delays and interruptions that added to the challenge, Rahul's concentration remained unshaken. His innings were marked by excellent shot selection and strong technical defense against the Australian bowlers. He missed out on a well-deserved century when Steve Smith redeemed himself with a superb catch in the slip cordon, but Rahul’s 84 was still a vital contribution that helped India build a competitive total. His ability to adapt and focus on the game despite the constant weather disruptions stood out, and it was a performance that earned him the respect of teammates and fans alike.
In the grand context of the Test, Rahul’s contributions with the bat, along with the determined lower-order efforts, ensured that India was able to steer the match towards a more favorable outcome, avoiding the follow-on and heading into the final phase of the game with renewed confidence. The emotional highs and lows experienced throughout the day exemplified the resilience of the Indian team as they fought hard to stay in the contest.
