IND vs AUS, 3rd Test: India avoid follow-on at Gabba against Australia; what it means for Rohit Sharma’s men?

Follow-on rules in cricket: Ravindra Jadeja's 77 off 123 balls and a gritty partnership between Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah helped India avoid the follow-on against Australia on a rain-hit Day 4 in the ongoing third Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Tuesday. At the time of writing, India were at 252/9 when stumps were drawn a bit early due to bad light. 

The visitors still trail by 193 runs in reply to Australia's first innings total of 445. With KL Rahul departing after a valiant 84, the onus lied with Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy to get India to 246 - the cut-off mark to avoid follow on. 

However, neither Jadeja nor Reddy could do the job for India, it was the unbeaten 39-run stand between Akash Deep and Bumrah who helped India cross the 246-run mark. But why is the 246-run mark important for India than getting closer to Australia's first innings total? The answer is that if India can get to 246 and avoid the follow-on, then it would make Australia bat again in the second innings, thus gaining more time towards saving this Test match. 

If India are all out before reaching 246, then the visitors will once again come to bat.

With the kind of form Indian batters are in, it is safer that Australia come out to bat again and set a target for Rohit Sharma & Co with just more day to go in this Test match.

What is a follow-on law in Test cricket?

“In a two-innings match of 5 days or more, the side which bats first and leads by at least 200 runs shall have the option of requiring the other side to follow their innings,” states the MCC Law 14.1.1. 

So, how does the follow-on law apply to the India vs Australia third Test match?

If India don't get to 246, Australia will have the opportunity to ask India come out to bat again for the second time in a row. India fail to accumulate enough runs in both innings which is equal to Australia's total 445, then the hosts win by an innings as they didn't require to bat for the second time.

With India crossing the follow-on limit, the visitors have saved the match as Australia will need to bat again after India are bowled out.