3 reasons why India need to be wary of Steve Smith ahead of BGT 2024-25 3rd Test 

As India gear up to face Australia in the third Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test at The Gabba, they will have their eyes set on Steve Smith, Australia's star batter.

While Smith has been going through a lean patch and has failed to deliver so far in this series, the 35-year-old will be keen to return to form in Brisbane. His Test form in 2024 has been poor as he has managed only one half-century in 13 innings. However, former Australian cricketer Callum Ferguson believes that Steve Smith might have some luck coming his way.

"My gut feeling is he's (Smith) got some luck coming his way, as we just mentioned caught down the leg side. But I feel like he's moving quite well through the ball, watching him closely at the ground during commentary. It looks like his body weight is transferring both ways really nicely but he just can't get away at the moment. Really hope he gets set and gets into the game because if he gets set then at some point he's going to hurt someone," Ferguson said on the Around the Wicket Podcast.

India will also be eager to bounce back after their defeat in Adelaide. As Steve Smith eyes a return to form, here are three reasons why the visitors will have to be wary of the Australian batter.

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#3 Steve Smith is working on refining his approach in the nets

As mentioned by Callum Ferguson, Steve Smith has been moving well through the ball despite his struggles to score. Even in the Adelaide Test, Smith looked solid with his defense although he was strangled down the leg side eventually.

In the first Test in Perth, Smith appeared to be a lot more steady in terms of head position even though he was not as comfortable.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins also stated that Smith was looking 'fantastic' and 'really sharp' in the nets. He added that the batter has been doing the right things. Despite his failure to score runs, he has looked good and it could just be a matter of time before he gets going again.

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#2 Successful record in Brisbane

Among the current batters in the Australian squad, Steve Smith has had a successful record in Tests at The Gabba. In Brisbane, he is Australia's highest run-scorer (present) with 821 runs in 17 innings.

The right-hander has three Test hundreds in Brisbane. Moreover, the last time he played at this venue against the West Indies earlier this year, he had a successful outing as he scored an unbeaten 91 in Australia's second innings.

He has an impressive average of 60.61 against India and has also scored 2061 runs from 21 matches and 40 innings overall. Smith loves scoring against India, which his numbers also suggest despite his current poor form.

The right-hander has smashed nine Test hundreds and five half-centuries against India and his first Test hundred at The Gabba also came against India during the 2014-15 series.

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#1 Confident top-order could rub off on Smith

After a poor batting display in Perth, the Australian top order gained confidence with their performance in Adelaide. In the first innings, Nathan McSweeney (39) and Marnus Labuschagne (64) were among the runs in Adelaide.

With the batters coming above Steve Smith gaining some confidence, a foundation could be set for him when he walks out to bat. If the top order performs well again and sets the tone, it could also allow Smith to take his time to settle in and the confidence could rub off on him as well.