Photo via Hindustan Times

‘Australia had a live feed’: Cheteshwar Pujara exposes Steve Smith’s 'cheap tactics' in 2017 ‘brain fade’ saga

During a discussion with Aakash Chopra roughly nine years following the 2017 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Cheteshwar Pujara revisited the notorious review controversy from the second Test in Bengaluru. In that match, Australia was pursuing a fourth-innings target of 188 when Umesh Yadav trapped Steve Smith leg before wicket.

Rather than assessing the decision with batting partner Peter Handscomb, Smith peered toward the away pavilion for guidance, triggering an immediate protest from Indian skipper Virat Kohli and his teammates. The match officials barred Smith from challenging the verdict because the allotted review window had elapsed, and Smith later attributed his conduct to a momentary lapse of reason.