Siraj, Shardul simply superb 19.5- 5- 73-
Gabba fortress under threat as India chase 327 for victory in 98 overs with 10 wickets intact
Rain played a dampener, wiping out the last session of day four, soon after Australia had set India 328, but the Gabba Test is all set for final showdown, in this four-Test series between the two best sides in Test cricket, in Gabba on Tuesday.
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were at the crease as they together faced 11 balls, of the possible 23.1 overs left to negotiate before stumps, when rain sent the players into the dressing rooms for the second time in the day and bringing curtains on the day-four proceedings.
The inconsistent bounce on the wicket should give the hosts a slight edge, however, the weather forecast does not as day five isn't encouraging.
It was pacers Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur produced another inspirational effort in adverse circumstances but India were set a challenging target, as the BorderGavaskar Trophy headed towards an exhilarating finale showdown on the final day, Tuesday.
The target is a tricky one and the Indian batsmen would get a fair idea of whether to go for it by lunch on the final day, which is Tuesday. This was after Siraj and Thakur combined to share nine wickets while dismissing Australia for 294 in their second innings.
Siraj punched way above his weight with his maiden five-wicket haul but couldn't prevent Australia from posting an imposing target for his team in only 75.5 overs of the second innings batting.
The highest target chased at Brisbane is 236 and that was seven decades ago which is an indicator of why this Australian ground can be equated with Fort Knox. The home team hasn't lost a game here since 1988.
Thakur's dream Test match also
got better with figures of four for 61 and a match haul of seven wickets. The most poignant moment was his apparent joy when he took the catch to help Siraj pip him to the coveted five-for landmark.
As Siraj showed that scuffed red kookaburra acknowledging the 957 people in the stands on the first working day of the week, the most generous applause came from his partner in crime, who walked a foot behind him clapping with gusto.
It was the kind of day that Test aficionados wait eagerly, ebbs and flows keeping everyone on the edge of their seats.
The possibility of rain adds to the excitement and the changing weather did affect the contours of Australia skipper Tim Paine's facial expressions which exhibited relief and despair in equal measures.
Among the two captains, Paine is supposed to be the enforcer but this Indian team hasn't stopped surprising its detractors with a spirit, which has made this series one of the finest played in recent times.
If Weather Gods don't decide to play the boss, there will be an official winner but certainly not a loser
his is the first Indian team that has earned well-wishers in exponential numbers for soldiering on manfully without any complaints.
A bowling attack with less than four-Test experience (if Thakur's debut is discounted) got 20 wickets without being over-expensive.