Australia vs India 2018: 3 reasons why Kohli didn’t enforce the follow-on 

#1 The risk of batting last

The fourth innings will be tough for the batsmen

India has had a terrible time chasing down targets in fourth innings in the last few years, especially away from home. They’ve not been able to chase down even small targets as well this year. India have lost Test matches in Cape Town, Centurion, Edgbaston, Southampton, and Perth chasing down middling fourth-innings targets.

They’ve succumbed under pressure every time and have lost those Test matches comfortably. What batting in the third innings does is, it helps the batsmen play with a freer mind without any scoreboard pressure. India might have lost five wickets already but they are still way ahead in the game and are calling the shots at the moment.

Hence, there would’ve been a risk of batting last on a deteriorating pitch. Even a target of 100 would have put pressure on the Indian batting line-up and we have seen things turn around quickly.