IND vs AUS 4th Test: How Many Runs Does India Need To Avoid Follow-On? Equation Explained

With Australia in firm control after posting a mammoth first-innings total of 474, India now faces an uphill battle of avoiding the follow-on.

India's foremost objective on Day 3 of IND vs AUS 4th Test in Melbourne will be to avoid the follow-on.

Source : @BCCI / X

Team India finds itself on the backfoot in the ongoing IND vs AUS 4th Test in Melbourne. At Stumps on Day 2, India reached 164 runs but lost five key wickets.

Big guns Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli failed to deliver, leaving fans disappointed. Yashasvi Jaiswal provided a silver lining with a hard-fought 82-run knock, but his unfortunate run-out added to India's woes.

With Australia in firm control after posting a mammoth first-innings total of 474, India now faces an uphill battle of avoiding the follow-on.

How many runs India need to avoid follow-on on Day 3 of IND vs AUS 4th Test in Melbourne

India's foremost objective on Day 3 of IND vs AUS 4th Test in Melbourne will be to avoid the follow-on. To do so, they need to cross the 274-run threshold, which means they must add 111 more runs to their current total of 164 runs.

At the crease are Rishabh Pant (6*) and Ravindra Jadeja (4*) and a determined effort from the duo is vital to keep India alive in the game. However, Pant's struggles with form in the ongoing IND vs AUS Border-Gavaskar Test series raise concerns. Veteran all-rounder Jadeja, who looked in fine form in the 3rd Test, will need to provide support to Pant to help the team overcome this challenging phase.

Also on ABP Live | Furious Irfan Pathan Responds To Australian Media's 'Clown' Jibe At Virat Kohli - WATCH

What is follow-on in Test cricket?

In Test cricket, "follow-on" refers to a rule in Test matches where each team gets two innings. If the team batting first gains a lead of 200 runs or more after their opponent's first innings, they can enforce the follow-on. This means the trailing team must bat again immediately without a break.

To enforce a follow-on, the captain of the team which has the lead must formally notify both the opposing captain and the umpires. Once this notification is provided, the decision is final and cannot be reversed.