Sunil Gavaskar slams Steve Smith: I don’t think what he did was in the spirit of the game

“A lot of people were talking regarding this in the commentary box, that the Australians looked up to the dressing room to get input from their computer guy, on whether they should go for a referral or not.

“It was quite blatant and Peter Handscomb suggested it to Steve Smith and then Smith asked the guy in the dressing room. I don’t think that was in the spirit of the game. We have to see what the ICC and Match Referee do,” Sunil Gavaskar told NDTV.

“You have to take a decision on a DRS within 15 seconds, on your own. I have not seen other earlier incidents but I saw it clearly when Smith did that today, he was clearly gesturing to the dressing room,” Gavaskar added.

The former Indian skipper also praised Virat Kohli for his captaincy during Australia's second innings, as India turned the game around to win a memorable Test by 75 runs.

He said, “Virat’s captaincy was brilliant in Australia’s second innings. In the first innings, his captaincy left a lot to be desired, like with the bowling changes he made. But in the second innings, he was spot on. I will give him 10 out of 10.

“This time (in the Australian second innings) Virat used the opening bowlers in short spells and kept R Ashwin at one end. His field placing was also spot on.

“The Test had all the ingredients to be considered as a very very good one. It was a gripping contest.

“It was a brilliant fightback by the Indians. India conceded a first innings lead of 87 runs which was very big lead under the circumstances. The 100-plus run partnership between Pujara and Rahane was the crucial one and they gave India the extra runs. Of course, India did not add many runs today. I think they were overconfident today and they should not do that again.”

Gavaskar has also lauded R Ashwin, who finished with figures of 6/41 in the second innings.

“It’s full credit to Ashwin. I thought he was worked up in the first innings and he was seen rushing through overs. However, in the Australian second innings, he took time in between deliveries and he was fantastic,” he added.