Reacting to the news of Steve Smith becoming Australia’s captain for the upcoming third Test against India, former India opener Aakash Chopra has said that it is a huge development. The Australia batsman will don the captain’s hat once again in absence of regular captain Pat Cummins.
Cummins returned home after the conclusion of the second Test in Delhi to be with his mother who is ill. The pacer was expected to return to India for the third Test but has decided to stay with his mother. With Cummins out, Smith is now all set to lead Australia in the third Test, scheduled to begin on March 1 in Indore.
Smith was sacked as Australia’s captain following the infamous sandpaper-gate scandal. In 2021, he was appointed as the vice-captain of the team. The upcoming Test will be his third as captain since being appointed Cummins’ deputy.
Aakash Chopra on Steve Smith becoming captain:
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that not many had thought of seeing Steve Smith becoming the Australia captain after the sandpaper scndal.
“Pat Cummins is not there, so Steve Smith is set to lead Australia. I mean, this is huge. He was obviously not there once in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy – Sandpaper gate and all of that – but he is back again.”
“There was a time when Australia decided that he might not be seen captaining again. There was a time-period ban to start with and there was a life ban on (David) Warner.
“When the period was over, everyone believed that he would not be made the captain again, but things change as time elapses,” said Chopra.
Speaking further, Chopra recalled Australia’s previous Test tour of India where Steve Smith was leading the team and had a stunning display with the bat. Chopra also highlighted Smith’s struggle in the ongoing series.
“Steve Smith was the one when the Border-Gavaskar Trophy happened last time here. I remember the brainfade match in Bangalore and the Pune match where he defeated India single-handedly. Steve O’Keefe and Steve Smith laid heavy on us,” said Chopra.
“His bat has been slightly quiet in this series thus far. He seemed to be batting well in both innings of the first match and that he might score runs but the second match was absolutely cold,” he added.