Australia's hopes of forcing a result in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy were dealt a significant blow on Day 4 as Josh Hazlewood was forced to leave the field with a calf injury. Hazlewood, who had been crucial for Australia in the series, had already taken the wicket of Virat Kohli in India's first innings. However, he was only able to bowl one over on the fourth day before walking off after discussing with team captain Pat Cummins, vice-captain Steve Smith, and the medical team.
Hazlewood's departure reduces Australia's bowling attack to just four specialist bowlers—Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon. This leaves the hosts with fewer options as they aim to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series against India.
Cricket Australia confirmed that Hazlewood was suffering from "calf awareness" and would undergo scans to assess the extent of the injury. This development is concerning for Australia, as Hazlewood had already missed the second Test due to a side strain and had only just returned to the lineup for this match. The injury also raises doubts about whether Australia will be able to enforce a follow-on if they manage to dismiss India for a score under 245.
With only five sessions remaining in the match, Australia's reduced bowling resources have complicated their strategy. It remains to be seen whether they can still press for a result, despite being a bowler short in the crucial final stages of the game.
