IND vs AUS 2023: Smith’s catch to dismiss Pujara was a massive moment – Nathan Lyon

Australia’s veteran spinner Nathan Lyon feels Steven Smith’s splendid catch to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara was a massive moment on day 2 of the third Test match at Indore. Pujara was batting on 59 when he flicked Lyon but Smith took an unbelievable catch while diving low to his right.

In fact, Smith hasn’t been at his absolute best in the slip cordon in the ongoing series but he took a brilliant catch to send back a dangerous-looking Pujara. The right-hander was going strong along with Axar Patel but that catch was the turning point of the game.

Lyon feels any other Australian player might not have been able to catch that, barring Smith.

“It was massive,” said Lyon about the catch. “To be honest with you, and this is no disrespect to anyone else in the team, but I don’t think anyone else is catching it. That’s just me bowling from one end and looking up and seeing Steve Smith at slip or leg slip and having that confidence as a bowler. Yes, he has dropped a couple here and there, but I wouldn’t trade him for anyone. It shows the quality of the cricketer he is that we see at training the different methods he is coming up with to try and get better and try and improve. This is someone who has played 95 Test matches.

“Hats off to Smithy, he did all the work, I’m not surprised but it was a massive moment to finish off the day strongly,” added Lyon.

After Pujara’s dismissal, India was skittled out for 163 runs in the second essay, giving a target of 76 runs to the visitors. On the other hand, Lyon has shared a great rivalry against Cheteshwar Pujara over the years and he called him an unbelievable cricketer.

“I won’t describe him as flashy or anything like that. But he’s an unbelievable cricketer. I’ve got a lot of respect for the way he goes about it. Nothing fazes him, whether it’s bouncing at the Gabba or spinning in Indore. He seems to find a way and a method. A lot of boys and girls can go the way he goes about batting and learn from it. He doesn’t have reverse sweeps and shots like that, but one thing he does have is an unbelievable defense. In my eyes, Test cricket is built around defense. We saw his class on a pretty challenging wicket once again.”

Pujara didn’t get support from the other end whereas Nathan Lyon returned with impressive figures of 8-64.