Rain interrupted Day 1 of the third Border-Gavaskar Test in Brisbane, where only 13.2 overs were possible. Australia was 28 for 0, with Usman Khawaja unbeaten on 19 and Nathan McSweeney on 4, when rain ended the day prematurely.
India won the toss and opted to bowl, influenced by overcast conditions and a grassy pitch. In recent years, the team choosing to bowl first has won six of the last seven Tests at the Gabba. The Indian bowlers struggled to find their rhythm early on, with Khawaja punishing anything too straight or short. He reached 13 from 22 balls before the first drizzle halted play.
After a brief interruption, India’s bowlers came back stronger, particularly Akash Deep. The right-arm pacer, replacing Harshit Rana, generated significant swing and bounce, troubling McSweeney with his pace and movement. However, the rain returned after 7.5 overs of tight bowling, forcing another delay. Although the outfield at the Gabba is fast-draining, play was not able to resume before both lunch and tea breaks. The rain finally relented around 3 p.m., but conditions worsened soon after, and play was officially called off at 4:13 p.m.
India made a change to their lineup, bringing in Ravindra Jadeja for his first appearance of the series in place of R Ashwin. This marked the third different spinner India has used in as many Tests. Australia made one change, bringing Josh Hazlewood back from injury to replace Scott Boland in the pace attack.
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