“Back with a bang” – Fans hail Steve Smith’s captaincy as Australia dominate India in 1st session on Day 1 of IND vs AUS 3rd Test

Steve Smith, who is leading Australia in the third Test against India at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, shone for his leadership skills as the visitors dominated the first session of Day 1.

A clinical bowling performance from Australia put the visitors in the driving seat. The hosts struggled at 84/7 after 26 overs. Spinners Mathew Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon scalped three wickets each, while Todd Murphy took the prized wicket of Virat Kohli.

cricket.com.au

@cricketcomau

What a morning for the Australian spinners!

#INDvAUS

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What a morning for the Australian spinners!

#INDvAUS

Fans hailed Steve Smith’s captaincy as he ensured Australia were on top with attacking field placements and for picking the right bowlers to dominate India.

Some pointed towards his aggressive mindset for the use of pacers to prevent Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel from scoring easy runs.

For the uninitiated, India’s tail wagged in the last two Tests under Pat Cummins’ captaincy. The regular skipper is currently in Sydney due to his mother's ill health.

Here are some of the best Twitter reactions:

AB

@aham_brahmasmi_

steve smith captaincy back with a bang

2

steve smith captaincy back with a bang

Karan Sharma

@SkSharmakaran

Great captaincy by Steve Smith so good with bowling changes and field positions and Australia are absolutely on Top

1

Great captaincy by Steve Smith so good with bowling changes and field positions and Australia are absolutely on Top 👏👏

Delhi Capitals Fan

@pantiyerfc

Excellent captaincy by Smith.Bringing a Starc to clean up the tail which Cummins didn't do in the previous two matches.
#BGT2023
#SteveSmith

Excellent captaincy by Smith.Bringing a Starc to clean up the tail which Cummins didn't do in the previous two matches.
#BGT2023
#SteveSmith

Harshul Trivedi

@Harshul3vedi

The way the Aussies have taken wickets and the bowling changes, i think Steve Smith is silently indicating why he should be the captain of this Aussie side. #AUSvsIND #BGT

2

The way the Aussies have taken wickets and the bowling changes, i think Steve Smith is silently indicating why he should be the captain of this Aussie side. #AUSvsIND #BGT

ΝΘᏴᏆͲᎪ🇮🇳🚩❤️💯

@RoFanBoy45264

Steve Smith ke captaincy Mai alag Australia lag rahi ha..🥵

6

Steve Smith ke captaincy Mai alag Australia lag rahi ha..🥵😷

Sushant Mehta

@SushantNMehta

Good move by Steve Smith to get Starc in for Axar & Ashwin. Lesson learnt.

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4

Good move by Steve Smith to get Starc in for Axar & Ashwin. Lesson learnt.

Sportyeal

@sportyeal

That's such a great captain move by Steve Smith, bringing Starc on for this Indian pair who have no fear of spin

Brilliant!

#IndvsAus

2

That's such a great captain move by Steve Smith, bringing Starc on for this Indian pair who have no fear of spin

Brilliant!

#IndvsAus

Faiz Fazel

@theFaizFazel

@Cricketracker Super Captain Steve Smith

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@Cricketracker Super Captain Steve Smith 🔥

Nikhil Kalra

@nkalra192

Captain Steve Smith is a different player altogether #IndvsAus #BorderGavaskarTrophy2023

Captain Steve Smith is a different player altogether 🔥🔥 #IndvsAus #BorderGavaskarTrophy2023

Kosha

@imkosha

Ye Steve Smith kuch zyada hi shanpatti kar raha hai

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Ye Steve Smith kuch zyada hi shanpatti kar raha hai

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Steve Smith’s exceptional record as Test captain

Since being named Pat Cummins’ deputy, Steve Smith has won both Tests as captain. The 33-year-old guided Australia to a 275-run victory against England in the Ashes 2021-22. He then helped the Aussies beat West Indies by 419 runs in a day-night Test last year.

Smith will now look to register a hat-trick of wins by helping the visitors fight back in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

So far, Smith has led Australia in 37 Tests, with 20 wins and 10 losses. He was removed as regular captain following the infamous Sandpaper scandal incident against South Africa after the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town in 2018.

Meanwhile, Pat Cummins has led Australia in 15 Tests, guiding Australia to eight wins, with four games ending in a draw. The Aussies are table toppers in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle under his leadership, with series wins against England, Pakistan, the West Indies, and South Africa.

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