Former Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara has asserted that the Australian team during the 2017 Border‑Gavaskar Trophy series in India benefitted from a live video feed in their dressing room, which they used to watch DRS replays. He contended that this gave Australian players an unfair edge when deciding whether to challenge umpire calls.
According to Pujara, Indian players observed a consistent pattern in Australia’s DRS success rate, noting that each review appeared successful and raising suspicion within the Indian camp. He described how the alleged live feed enabled Australian players to obtain real‑time information, distinguishing it from the typical broadcast feeds provided to other teams.
“Whenever they reviewed a DRS decision, it appeared perfectly accurate, indicating that they already knew whether to challenge. Prior to this, none of the Indian players realized that Australia possessed a live feed from their dressing room,” Pujara told Aakash Chopra during a discussion on Baith & Bol.
Australia’s live feed advantage during DRS reviews
Pujara explained the technical details, noting that while dressing‑room feeds are typically delayed, Australia secured a live feed for the series, enabling its players to glance at real‑time information before deciding on a DRS review.
“While the dressing‑room feed is normally delayed, Australia had a live feed, allowing players to discreetly glance toward the dressing room and decide whether to request a review, without being noticed,” Pujara added.
“This practice was unfair, as it exploited a loophole; had another team done the same, they would likely have faced objections, yet Australia faced no criticism,” Pujara said.
Pujara’s view on the fairness of the practice
At the Bengaluru Test, Steve Smith was given out leg before wicket by Umesh Yadav in Australia’s second innings. He turned to the Australian dressing room for advice on reviewing the decision, but Virat Kohli stepped in to stop him from requesting DRS. Smith later described the incident as a ‘brainfade’ moment, and Kohli accused him of crossing a line, claiming that Australian players repeatedly sought guidance from their dressing room for DRS decisions.
“Many incidents unfolded during the series; Australia was keen to secure a win in India. Credit to them, they were well prepared and became the first side since England in 2012 to seriously threaten India at home,” Pujara remarked.
The 2017 series proved pivotal as Australia posed a genuine threat to India’s home record; India had not lost a home Test series since England in 2012. Australia claimed victory in the opening Test at Pune by 333 runs, with Steve O’Keefe delivering 12 wickets for 70 runs—the best bowling figures by an Australian in a Test on Indian soil. Nevertheless, India responded with a 75‑run win in the Bengaluru Test, sealing the series 2‑1.
“Before this, they struggled to compete. Though they had the talent, on the field numerous incidents occurred—some of which I cannot discuss—that I believe were inappropriate. Such matters often become personal,” he added.
Reflecting on the heated exchanges and intense atmosphere of the series, Pujara admitted that he, too, crossed the line on occasion, especially when Australia’s sledging intensified. He acknowledged that these moments sometimes prompted players to make personal remarks they later regretted.
“I have also sledged. We would verify whether cameras were recording or whether the stump microphone was active, but we did not want to be caught in such a situation. When the opponent’s sledging escalated, we felt compelled to respond in kind, even though our primary aim was to take a wicket; consequently, we often made personal comments we later regretted,” Pujara concluded.
