India bid farewell to Ashwin as rain leaves Gabba test a stalemate

:Rain cut short Australia's improbable push for victory in the third test in Brisbane on Wednesday as India bid farewell to one of the game's great spin bowlers when Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement.

Though second best for much of the first four days, India finished day five on a high by capturing seven wickets and with their openers left to face only 2.1 overs before a downpour saw play abandoned after tea and the match end in a draw.

The weather ensured the five-test series remains locked at 1-1 ahead of the traditional "Boxing Day" test in Melbourne, where both teams will bring a mix of optimism and concern.

"We'll take that, obviously," said India captain Rohit Sharma at the post-match presentation.

"We head to Melbourne with the confidence that we can try to pull things toward us."

India were eight for no loss when tea was called early due to failing light, with the tourists 267 runs short of victory at the Gabba.

Captain Pat Cummins had declared Australia's second innings closed at 89 for seven to give India a 275-run target as dark clouds gathered.

Australia may rage at the weather, having battled hard for a winning position while rain blighted four of the five days.

"Unfortunately a lot of rain, which you can't do anything about... I'm really proud of how the guys played," said Cummins.

"We were right ahead of the game.... We just about ticked off every box we could."

Travis Head was named Player of the Match after scoring 152 in Australia's first innings, having also scored a big hundred in the hosts' second test win in Adelaide.

With Steve Smith also scoring a century in a return to form, Australia put 445 on the board in the first innings and wrapped up India's reply for 260 in the first hour of day five by