Steve Smith Should Be Given Indian Citizenship – Aakash Chopra
Nov 28, 2020 at 5:00 PM
Steve Smith, an Australian batsman, scored a brisk 105 off 66 balls with the help of 11 fours and 4 sixes partnered skipper Aaron Finch who scored 114 as Australia posted a daunting target of 365 for India to win in the 1st ODI at Sydney. He was struggling to find the rhythm in IPL 2020 scoring 311 runs in 14 games averaging a below-par 25.91.
While leading Rajasthan Royals in IPL, he failed to produce match-winning performances for his team scoring only 3 fifties. However, keeping all that aside, he is back with the utmost style and elegance in the international arena. In the first ODI against India in Sydney, he kicked off the bilateral series with an impressive brisk century.
Steve Smith Scores Ton As Aakash Chopra Jokingly Wants Him To Be Offered Indian Citizenship
Steve Smith smashed the Indian bowlers in all the directions to set up Australia’s quest for a series victory perfectly. Even Indian star pacer like Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t spared when he started wreaking havoc. Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini and spinner Yuzvendra Chahal conceded more than 7 runs per over. Former Indian opener and cricket analyst Aakash Chopra jokingly said that Steve Smith should be given Indian citizenship, given his fondness for the country.
Since Smith loves India so much, might as well offer him the citizenship. Inka Aadhaar Card banvaiye please 🤐😱 Ominous signs for the entire tour…. 🙈 #AUSvIND
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 27, 2020
Steve Smith averages 63.25 against India in 19 ODIs, amassing 1012 runs. He scored 4 hundreds against India which is his most against a single opponent in ODIs. The batsman was in stellar form and only got dismissed in the final over of Australia’s innings. His brilliant knock turned out to be the third fastest ODI ton by an Australian batsman.
Steve Smith Was Disappointed With His Batting Throughout IPL 2020
Regarding his dismal form in IPL 2020, Steve Smith smashed two half-centuries in the first two games played at Sharjah and lost his rhythm thereafter. He was only able to gather 192 runs in the next 12 matches he played for RR. On the eve of the ODI series, Steve Smith stated that he is unhappy with his IPL 2020 campaign but has ‘found his hands’ at practise net sessions. His actions replicated his words as he created havoc in the first ODI itself.
“I was pretty disappointed with my batting throughout the IPL. For my sort of standards, I wasn’t consistent enough. I did play a few innings here and there but not consistently. I think in the last few days, people who know me well, said that I have found my hands and I am excited about it. So I plan to have a few more hits at the nets and get started in a few days time,” said Smith in a virtual press conference recently.
2020 is turning out to be a great year in ODIs for Steve Smith as he has 457 runs averaging 65.29 in 8 ODIs with 2 tons and as many fifties. It will be however seen whether India bounce back hard in the next two remaining ODIs in 29th November at Sydney and 2nd December at Canberra.