How Many Runs Do India Need to Avoid Follow-On Against Australia?

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Ravindra Jadeja’s dismissal for 77 off 123 balls made things tough for India as they fought to avoid the follow-on against Australia on a rain-affected Day 4 in the third Test at the Gabba, Brisbane, on Tuesday. At the time of writing, India were at 236/9, still needing 10 runs to reach the crucial 246-run mark.

India currently trail by 221 runs in response to Australia’s massive first-innings total of 445. With KL Rahul dismissed for a hard-fought 84 earlier, the responsibility fell on Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy to help India reach 246 — the minimum total required to avoid the follow-on.

Unfortunately, neither player could complete the job. But why is the 246-run mark so important for India?

Why Is the 246-Run Mark Crucial?

The follow-on rule comes into play in Test cricket when the team batting first gets a big lead. According to the MCC Law 14.1.1, “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.”

For this Test match:

• Australia scored 445 in their first innings.
• A 200-run lead means India must score at least 246 runs to avoid being asked to bat again immediately.

If India are all out before reaching 246, Australia can enforce the follow-on. This would mean India must bat again right after their first innings. Australia will then aim to dismiss India a second time to win the match outright.

However, if India reach or go past the 246-run mark, they avoid the follow-on. This would force Australia to bat again in their second innings, allowing India more time to save the Test match.

What Happens If India Fail to Avoid the Follow-On?

If India do not reach the required 246 runs:

• Australia can ask India to bat again immediately.
• If India’s combined total in both innings still falls short of Australia’s 445, the hosts will win by an innings margin, meaning they will not need to bat again.

On the other hand, if India manage to surpass Australia’s first-innings total of 445 across both innings, Australia will need to bat again and score the required runs to win the match.

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