Australian captain Steve Smith faced a tough moment in the Champions Trophy 2025 match against Afghanistan at Gaddafi Stadium. The incident occurred in the 38th over, when Nathan Ellis bowled a good-length delivery outside the off-stump to Azmatullah Omarzai. The Afghan batter missed the shot, but wicketkeeper Josh Inglis was convinced there was an edge and urged Smith to take a review.
- Steve Smith’s DRS call turned out to be a blunder.
- UltraEdge technology confirmed no contact between bat and ball.
- Australia lost a crucial review at a key moment in the match.
- The decision allowed Afghanistan to continue building their innings.
Steve Smith’s Costly Review Decision
Smith trusted his wicketkeeper and immediately signaled for DRS. However, UltraEdge clearly showed a gap between bat and ball. This led to an unsuccessful review, frustrating the Australian skipper. His visible disappointment reflected the gravity of the mistake, as the review could have been used in a more crucial situation.
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Impact on the Match
The failed DRS review came at a critical stage of the game. Afghanistan was fighting hard to set a competitive total, aiming for a semi-final spot in their debut Champions Trophy campaign. Losing a valuable review meant Australia had fewer opportunities to challenge umpire decisions later in the innings.
Afghanistan’s Innings So Far
Afghanistan, after winning the toss, chose to bat first. Their start wasn’t ideal as Spencer Johnson dismissed opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz early. However, Sediqullah Atal’s solid knock of 85 runs off 95 balls helped stabilize their innings. At the time of writing, Afghanistan was at 223/7 after 44 overs, with Omarzai and Gulbadin Naib still at the crease.
Lessons from the DRS Blunder
- Trust but verify: Smith relied on his wicketkeeper, but a careful approach could have saved the review.
- DRS should be used wisely: Wasting reviews on uncertain decisions can cost teams in crucial moments.
- Momentum shift: The failed review gave Afghanistan a psychological edge, allowing them to extend their innings.
The Champions Trophy 2025 is proving to be a thrilling tournament, and every decision matters. Smith’s DRS mistake will be a learning experience for Australia as they move forward in the competition.
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ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Matches
Pakistan vs New Zealand - 1st Match, Group A | Bangladesh vs India - 2nd Match, Group A | Afghanistan vs South Africa - 3rd Match, Group B | Australia vs England - 4th Match, Group B | Pakistan vs India - 5th Match, Group A | Bangladesh vs New Zealand - 6th Match, Group A | Australia vs South Africa - 7th Match, Group B | Afghanistan vs England - 8th Match, Group B | Pakistan vs Bangladesh - 9th Match, Group A | Afghanistan vs Australia - 10th Match, Group B | England vs South Africa - 11th Match, Group B | New Zealand vs India - 12th Match, Group A | TBA vs TBA, 1st Semi-Final | TBA vs TBA, 2nd Semi-Final | TBA vs TBA, Final |
ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Teams
PAKISTAN | NEW ZEALAND | BANGLADESH | INDIA | AFGHANISTAN | SOUTH AFRICA | AUSTRALIA | ENGLAND
