Brisbane: “So,” a voice echoed from the press box, “do you think Akash Deep’s next hit will be a four or a six?”

Others jumped in — one mentioned it could be a shot through the covers, another predicted a six, while a few just told them to quiet down. This was serious business.

It was a first for the 28-year-old pacer’s batting to be discussed with such excitement by the media, but that’s the magic of Test cricket — it makes you pay attention to every little detail, whether it’s significant or not. This felt somewhat crucial since India needed four runs to avoid the follow-on and force Australia to bat again.

India managed to get those four runs — and they came off Akash Deep’s bat, just not in the way anyone anticipated. It was from a back of length delivery outside the off-stump. The batter poked at it, and it sailed over the jumping gully fielder. Cheers erupted throughout the stadium and even in parts of the press box. Ah, Test cricket!

If you check the scorecard from the Brisbane Test, you won’t find anything remarkable. Australia posted 445 in their first innings. India’s innings, interrupted by rain, was a tough one. By the end of Day 4, the visitors were sitting at 252/9, still trailing by 193 runs.

Test cricket on days like this – with only 57.5 overs bowled – isn’t just about the overall picture. It’s really about finding excitement in the little things and the surprises that pop up. For the roughly 6,000 fans who showed up on Tuesday, the thrill of watching KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja put together a crucial 67-run partnership early on was dampened by the disappointment of seeing captain Rohit Sharma score just 10 runs. But by the end of the day, they were caught up in something completely different.

With the last major player of the Indian batting lineup back in the locker room, many expected the visitors to flounder, but the unexpected fight was a refreshing twist.

It was impressive to see how Rahul, who was dropped on the very first ball of the day by Steve Smith, capitalized on that opportunity by sticking to what had worked for him throughout the series. From that moment until he was out for 84, he was outstanding.

Jadeja was just as impressive. Although he gave away 95 runs in his 23 overs, his 77 runs highlighted why he’s such an essential part of this Indian team after being brought in for the first time this series. His contributions from the lower order served as a clear reminder of how the top order needed to approach batting on a pitch that offered bounce and movement.

Jadeja's wicket left India in a tough spot at 213/9, needing 246 to avoid the follow-on and boost their chances of salvaging the Test. At the crease were No. 10 Jasprit Bumrah and No. 11 Akash Deep.

Mitchell Starc was quickly brought back into the mix, with two slips, a gully, and a short leg in place as the big left-arm bowler came around the wicket.

Bumrah and Akash managed to see off that over. Then, Pat Cummins returned to bowl from the other end. In Adelaide, the Aussie captain had put pressure on the Indian tailenders with his short balls. Would he try that tactic again?

Just like in the second Test, he came around the wicket and delivered a short ball right away. But Bumrah wasn’t going to back down easily. He got inside the line and hooked it into the stands, earning cheers from the crowd, while the Aussies saw it as just a brief pause in the action.

The Indian team management quickly messaged the two batsmen, urging them to focus on scoring those runs. They didn’t need to go for boundaries; just play smart and pick up singles..

Rahul mentioned later, "They opened up the field, making those singles available. It was important to be a bit more patient since we noticed Akash going for a boundary just before the message was sent out. So, we wanted to calm him down and see if they could grab five or six singles to avoid the follow-on."

For the next five overs, the Aussie bowlers gave it their all against the lower order, but those two batsmen stood their ground. They had some luck on their side, but their courage definitely earned it.

As the light dimmed, Cummins made one last attempt to bowl India out. However, Akash's four over gully secured India's position, and shortly after, he sent a pitched-up delivery soaring into the stands. Just one ball later, bad light brought the game to a halt.

Australia still holds the upper hand, and India might face challenges on the final day, but nobody can overlook the effort from Bumrah and Akash. They displayed incredible determination and spirit, reminding us all of the beauty of Test cricket.

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