Australia’s 2016-17 tour of India remains one of the most memorable Test series of the decade, not only because of the fiercely contested cricket but also because of Steve Smith’s infamous ‘brain fade’ controversy. The series quickly became intense after Australia stunned India by 333 runs in the opening Test in Pune, proving that the hosts could be challenged on home soil. The second Test in Bengaluru produced another dramatic moment.

Australia were chasing 188 for victory, with captain Steve Smith’s wicket carrying enormous significance given his outstanding form during the series. Steve Smith was eventually trapped lbw by Umesh Yadav and given out. The Australian captain initially appeared ready to review the decision but then turned towards the dressing room for guidance. While players can consult their batting partners, seeking assistance from the dressing room is not permitted under the Decision Review System (DRS) regulations.

The Indian team immediately objected, and umpire Nigel Llong intervened before Smith could receive any outside assistance. Smith eventually walked back to the pavilion, but the incident sparked a major controversy. Then India captain Virat Kohli was visibly furious with the Australian captain’s actions. Smith later described the moment as a ‘brain fade’, attempting to explain it as a lapse in judgment rather than a deliberate attempt to gain an unfair advantage.

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Virat Kohli, however, suggested that the incident was more serious. He claimed he had previously noticed Australian players looking towards the dressing room for confirmation about whether they should take DRS reviews. Kohli said there were certain “lines you don’t cross on the cricket field”, distinguishing the incident from ordinary sledging. While he stopped short of directly using the word ‘cheating’, his comments highlighted the seriousness of the confrontation.

Years later, former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has offered another perspective on the controversy. Speaking to Aakash Chopra on his YouTube channel, Pujara recalled how efficiently Australia appeared to use the DRS during the series. “They knew instantly whether to take DRS or not,” Pujara recalled.

According to Cheteshwar Pujara, there was often very little delay between a dismissal occurring and the Australian players deciding whether to review it. He claimed that players would discreetly glance towards the dressing room before making their decisions. For Pujara, that made the Smith incident particularly uncomfortable because it appeared to exploit a gap in the system. “It was unfair in a way,” Pujara said. “You are searching for the loophole. If this was done by any other team, they would’ve objected. But they had no problem doing it themselves.”

Pujara also acknowledged that Australia had arrived in India with a clear determination to win a Test series. Despite the controversy, he praised the visitors for their preparation and competitiveness. “A lot happened during the series. They were desperate to win a series in India,” he said. “Credit to them though, they came prepared. They appeared the first team since England in 2012 to give us a scare that we can lose to Australia at home.”

However, Cheteshwar Pujara suggested that some incidents went beyond normal competitive cricket and became personal.

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“I too sledged. We checked if the camera is on us or not, or if the stump mic is not catching anything. But you do not want to be in that situation,” he admitted. Pujara explained that sledging can sometimes escalate when players feel provoked, but the ultimate objective should remain taking wickets rather than making personal attacks. “You do that when the opponent is sledging a lot, then you go into that space that I am not going to hold back now. Ultimately, the purpose is to pick a wicket, but a lot of the time you end up making personal comments which you are not proud of,” he added.

The 2016-17 Border-Gavaskar Trophy ultimately remains memorable for its intense cricket, Australia’s challenge to India at home and the controversy surrounding Smith’s DRS decision.