All that the Australian skipper, Steve Smith touched turned into gold in the ongoing Test in Indore as the star batter replaced Pat Cummins to lead the team. Australia was down and out after going 2-0 in the 4-match series but Smith lifted the visitors with a sensational display of captaincy skills over the first couple of days of the 3rd Test.
Steve Smith may not have led the way with the bat as he was out for 26 in the first innings but the skipper was on top of his mark with his bowling changes and field placements. Australia’s stand-in skipper topped it all with a sensational catch to end the stunning knock by Cheteshwar Pujara on Day 2 of the 3rd Test.
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Pujara was given no opportunity for the Australian spinners to dislodge him and got to his half-century. However, a moment of lapse in concentration cost him his wicket and arguably India’s chances to enforce a favorable result in the Test.
Nathan Lyon was running riot on Thursday, completing his 23rd 5-wicket haul as India was in all sorts of trouble, losing 7 wickets for just 140 after having conceded an 88-run first-innings lead. Pujara, however, was fighting hard despite losing partners at regular intervals. A piece of brilliance on the field ended the resistance from Pujara as the India No. 3 batter tried to flick a full-length delivery on the pads behind the square on the leg side.
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However, Smith, fielding at leg slip, showcased his incredible reflexes as he bent down in a flash to take a brilliant one-handed catch. Cheteshwar Pujara was not able to believe his luck as Smith held on to the catch and celebrated the huge wicket as India slipped to 155 for 8, leading only by 67 runs. Pujara was dismissed for 59 in 142 balls.
Here is the video of the catch by Steve Smith:
Here is how the netizens reacted to the catch from Steve Smith:
WHAT A CATCH BY STEVE SMITH!
Pujara is OUT caught at leg slip by the Aussie captain, and that is a massive wicket.
Pujara goes for 59, Nathan Lyon has another one.
India 8/155 – Lead of 67
— SEN Cricket (@SEN_Cricket) March 2, 2023
Catch of the series by Steve Smith to dismiss Pujara. 😯🔥#INDvsAUSTest #IndvsAus pic.twitter.com/52GGlAA6N2
— 🄺Ⓐ🅃🄷🄸🅁 1⃣5⃣ (@katthikathir) March 2, 2023
Damn.. what a catch by Steve Smith 😶
— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) March 2, 2023
what a catch by steve smith. reminded me of this catch by raina in nottingham. pic.twitter.com/ClLigYvSJ4
— Mayank (@ImMayankB) March 2, 2023
That’s the best catch I reckon I’ve ever seen, that’s so hard to do in that position!
Steve Smith 😱 #AUSvIND— Tim Fernando ❤️🤍🖤 (@TimFernandoITPB) March 2, 2023
