Watch: Australia captain Steve Smith dropping Hardik Pandya during 1st ODI vs India

Chennai: Australian skipper Steve Smith’s dropped catch of Hardik Pandya during Indian innings turned out to be costly for Team Australia as the India all-rounder played a valuable 83-run-knock to helped India win the first match of the five-match ODI series against Australia at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Team India was in deep trouble at 110/5 when Smith dropped a regulation catch in the slip. Nathan Coulter Nile who was in middle of a fine spell was bowling the 28th over, in the second delivery of the over Hardik played a high-risk dab shot towards the third man, but the ball hit the face of the bat and looped towards Smith in the slip. The Australian captain failed to latch onto the chance and the ball sneaked underneath the hand and went for a boundary.

Pandya seized the second chance and shifted the momentum in India's favor as he unleashed an all-out attack on the Australian bowlers. Australian Leg spinner Adam Zampa was at the receiving end as the 23-year-old smashed three consecutive sixes and one boundary to bring the Chennai crowd on their feet. Pandya was equally brutal on the seamers as he went after James Faulkner and Marcus Stoinis.

Pandya was eventually dismissed for 83 off 66 deliveries  by Zampa  but the batsman had already done the damage

For Australian skipper Smith, it was an unforgettable day in the field. He first dropped Rohit Sharma off the bowling of Pat Cummins in the fifth over of the game but the opening batsman did not make the opportunity count as he was dismissed by Marcus Stoinis. Hardik Pandya’s drop catch proved to be a game-changing moment as the latter went on to play match-winning knock.