Australian cricketer Steve Smith had an uncharacteristically tough day in the field during the fifth Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 3, 2025. The star fielder dropped a straightforward catch off Scott Boland’s bowling, giving Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja a vital lifeline. Jadeja, batting on just 3 runs from six balls, edged a delivery to second slip, but Smith, usually reliable in the cordon, failed to hold on.
This wasn’t Smith’s only missed opportunity of the day. Earlier in the morning session, he dropped Virat Kohli off the same bowler, Boland. The ball had flown to first slip, but despite a diving effort, the catch wasn’t clean, giving Kohli a reprieve. However, Smith redeemed himself somewhat by completing a sharp catch to dismiss Shubman Gill off Nathan Lyon’s bowling just before lunch.
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Shubman Gill, playing at No. 3 in place of Rohit Sharma, managed 20 runs from 64 balls before his dismissal. Jadeja, ranked No. 1 among Test all-rounders, was fortunate to survive Smith’s error early in his innings. With India struggling, Jadeja’s presence at the crease offers a glimmer of hope for the visitors. His task will be to stabilize the innings and ensure the team puts up a competitive total under the leadership of stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah.
Jadeja alive, Steve Smith dropped the catch. #AUSvIND #Cricket #TestCricket pic.twitter.com/r8IxvR1diH
— Yugal (@iamYugal18) January 3, 2025
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli’s struggles in the series continued. The former Indian captain was dismissed for 17 off 69 balls, once again caught in the slips. His recurring issues outside off-stump have been exploited mercilessly by the Australian bowlers, with Kohli falling to catches in the slip cordon in all seven innings of the series.
WATCH – Shubman Gill Falls To Nathan Lyon’s Clever Bowling Just Before Lunch
Jadeja now carries the responsibility of turning the tide for India, as they aim to recover from a precarious position in their first innings. The reprieve from Smith could prove costly for Australia, depending on how Jadeja capitalizes on his second chance. For Smith, the drops are a rare blemish in an otherwise stellar career, but they underline the high-stakes nature of this series-deciding Test.
