"Tail wags more than the body" - Twitter erupts after a spirited batting display from Team India

Team India got out of jail after a spirited rearguard action meant the visitors conceded only a slender 33-run lead to Australia on the third day of the ongoing Gabba Test.

Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur were the unexpected performers for the visitors, as their record 123-run stand for the seventh wicket helped Team India post 336 runs in their first innings in response to Australia's total of 369.

Twitterati lauds Team India for showing incredible grit and determination

Fans on Twitter applauded the visitors for dishing out yet another backs-to-the-wall performance when they were in danger of conceding a huge lead at 186-6. Here is what some of them said in this regard:

Remarkable batting from @Sundarwashi5 and @imShard wow wow wow..... india just behind by 33 runs and now having a great chance of pushing a win.@ICC @BCCI #GabbaTest #INDvAUS

— NiceguyHG🇮🇳 (@hg_niceguy) January 17, 2021

We were exactly trailing by 33 runs in Adelaide 2003. Come on, it's still Dravid's birthday week. @BoredCricket @imAagarkar #INDvsAUS #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/CehhTnIfKF

— Ritesh Surana (@SuranaRitesh) January 17, 2021

What a series, what a fight from IndiaFrom 36 to 336 👏👏BRAVO....Well Played TEAM INDIA#INDvsAUS #INDvAUS #AUSvIND #Ausvsindia

— Entertales (@Entertales) January 17, 2021

Well Done!!Tail waged better than that the body 👌👌Time for Top order (Senior pros).. PUJARA & RAHANE to seal the game in 2nd innings!Go for WIN🔥, draw will be consequential 😜😂#AUSvsIND #INDvsAUSTest#brisbanetest #INDVAUS #IndvsAus4thtest#Gabba

— MEHROS (@PundRoshan) January 17, 2021

Irrespective of the result of this Test, I hope this is not the last we see of @imShard @Sundarwashi5 @Natarajan_91 and Siraj.Even when the regular guys are back, these guys have done more than enough to deserve more opportunities.@BCCI @SGanguly99 @imVkohli#INDvAUS #AUSvIND

— Kuntal Ganguly (@_kuntalganguly) January 17, 2021

This wasn't just a fantastic shot from @imShard . It was a worm hole which lifted this series into another dimension. #IndiavsAustralia #INDvAUS https://t.co/1u7Ew7j6FT

— Gaurav Nandan Tripathi (@GauravNandanTr1) January 17, 2021

From 186/6, getting to 336 is itself a great effort.Conceding just 33 run lead has put even an Indian win as a possibility which almost seemed impossible yesterday.Bowlers have done well with the bat. Now hope they excel with the ball. Chak de India! #INDvAUS #AUSvIND

— Vrijilesh Rai (@ChaiBiskutBhai) January 17, 2021

Looks like India's reserve players are far better than our main 11#INDvsAUS #INDvAUS #AUSvIND

— Karthik (@sarcaustic_soda) January 17, 2021

India had to bat once 110-120 overs to save the test. Now looking at a win here. One big hearted spell by the bowlers can change things. Think the players sense that. What a lad this @Sundarwashi5 is. Looks as composed as like he's playing his 50th test#Wrong1 #IndvAus #AusvInd https://t.co/YBkI5Sqo4A

— Krishna Kulkarni (@kgk2608) January 17, 2021

From Net bowlers arrived for practice to highest scorers in the innings.We have to stand up and appreciate one of the greatest fightbacks on Australian land.What a series 🔥#WashingtonSundar & #shardulthakur #INDvAUS#GabbaTest pic.twitter.com/OddsgICFuV

— V I J U V I J A Y A N (@vijuvijayan6) January 17, 2021

Team India had a mountain to climb at the start of Day 3, as they trailed by 307 runs.

With their two most experienced batsmen - Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane - at the crease, the visitors made a watchful start. However, Pujara's wicket provided an opening for Australia.

The 32-year-old received an absolute peach of a delivery from Josh Hazlewood. But most of the other Indian batsmen threw away their wickets after getting off to decent starts.

Rahane, Mayank Agarwal and Rishabh Pant were all caught in the slip cordon, going needlessly after balls outside the off-stump, as Team India found themselves in more than a spot of bother at 186-6, 183 runs in arrears.

Steve Smith juggles a hot chance at slip - and Australia have five Indian wickets! #OhWhatAFeeling@Toyota_Aus | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/o93PJXA8BM

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 17, 2021

However, Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur, playing their first Test innings, had other plans.

The duo was resolute in their defence and also backed themselves to play their shots, as their record 123-run stand for the seventh wicket meant India did not fall too far behind in the Test.

Shardul crunches a "Steve Waugh-like" cover drive says Mike Hussey.Live #AUSvIND: https://t.co/IzttOVtrUu pic.twitter.com/UPEKp8g7gg

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 17, 2021

Shardul Thakur (67) and Washington Sundar (62) ensured Team India fell only 33 runs short of Australian first-innings score of 369. Australian openers David Warner and Marcus Harris, in response, remained unscathed at the end of the day's play to swell the hosts' lead to 54 runs.

That's stumps! Warner raced out of the blocks this evening with Australia's lead now 54 runs.Scorecard: https://t.co/qvYTMSiZsl #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/PfsAFNkf0p

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 17, 2021

With an intriguing last two days of the Brisbane Test coming up, both teams would fancy their chances of taking an outright win.

However, if the visitors bowl out Australia for a manageable total in the second innings, they would fathom their chances of pulling off arguably the most memorable series win away from home in the rich annals of Indian cricket.