Steve Smith enjoyed a real zero to hero day at the Gabba, dropping an absolute sitter before stunning fans with a ridiculous one-handed grab.

The 35-year-old was in the thick of things on day four as Australia pushed for a result amid the ongoing rain in Brisbane, with the constant delays helping India.

On the very first ball, Smith put down a simple catch at second slip off the bowling off skipper Pat Cummins, who was clearly displeased with the blunder.

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Aussie great Kerry O’Keeffe was a little more forgiving on Fox Cricket commentary.

“Smith doesn’t drop sodas – I think it came too slowly for him,” he said.

“He had plenty of time to cup his hands. I just think he misjudged the pace.”

At the time of Smith’s drop, KL Rahul was on just 33 and the mistake looked like it was proving costly as the Indian opener moved past the half-century mark.

With a ton in his grasp however, Rahul would edge a delivery from Nathan Lyon and just as it looked as though it would land safely, Smith stuck a hand out and reeled it in.

“Pure reflex, an absolute ripper … plucks it out of thin air,” Ravi Shastri said.

There were a few smiles in the huddle and no doubt some cheeky barbs thrown Smith’s way from the captain, who no doubt would have loved to take the wicket of Rahul.

Rahul was dismissed for 84, while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also showed some fight for the tourists as he sat on 41 not-out during an afternoon rain delay.