'Once a cheat, always a cheat' trends after Steve Smith caught removing Rishabh Pant's guard marks on crease

While the third Test between India and Australia is slowly moving towards an exciting finish, injuries and sledging have been constant. Rishabh Pant made sure to reduce the gap of the huge target with his blistering knock of 97.

While Pant started slowly, he surely took on the charge taking on the Australian bowlers, especially Nathan Lyon. The wicketkeeper-batsman reached his half-century in 64 deliveries, hitting five fours and three sixes.

However, while the drinks break was on, Australia's No. 49 - Steve Smith - was caught doing something that got netizens to term him as a cheater. 

Smith tried to unsettle Pant by removing his guard marks on the pitch. His shadow-batted at the crease, and proceeded to scuffle out the guard marks, forcing Pant to retake the guard.

Seeing this got netizens agitated as they started trending, "once a cheat, always a cheat'.

Who here has lost respect for Steve Smith and Tim Paine? Because I have. #AUSvIND

— Jay (@bhavsarJ2_0) January 11, 2021

Not every cheat is mentioned in ICC rules

So here I am : #SteveSmith

— Sharique (@Jerseyno_93) January 11, 2021

Your G. O. A. T
OUR G.O.A. T
Steve Smith : once a cheat always a cheater#bansmith #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/QJzkG66UIm

— Chakri (@CNallandula) January 11, 2021

Once a cheat , always a cheat.@stevesmith49 @cricketcomau @BCCI @ICC #stevesmith

— Ranjan Bhandary (@ranjanbantwal) January 11, 2021

Steve Smith: Once a cheat always a cheat#AUSvINDtest #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Rrk4SESULx

— Vinay shetty (@Vinay045shetty) January 11, 2021

Umpires need the check the pockets of Steve Smith asap.
Once a cheat always a cheat.

— Raghav Agrawal (@_i_am_raghav_) January 11, 2021

Earlier, India were given a 407-run target after Australia declared their second innings on 312/6 on Day 4. Rohit Sharma made a promising start but threw his wicket away after his half-century.

On Day 5, Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed for 4, but Pant who was promoted to the order along with Cheteshwar Pujara braved the Aussie bowling attack.

Enroute his innings, Pant also became the first visiting player to score 25+ runs in his first ten innings on Australian soil. He was however dismissed by Lyon when he was just three runs away from a century.