IPL 2020: Steven Smith Should Drop Himself – Gautam Gambhir

Oct 26, 2020 at 1:30 PM

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IPL 2020: Steven Smith Should Drop Himself – Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir has criticized Steven Smith’s inconsistent run with the bat and Rajasthan Royal’s inability to win matches. Rajasthan Royals have won only 5 and lost 7 matches and are placed 6th in the points table. Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir believes that Steven Smith is the main issue that is not working out for Rajasthan Royals this season.

Former Australian captain Steve Smith is regarded as one of the best batsmen in the world across formats. Still, his performance in the ongoing season of Indian Premier League 2020 has not been as expected despite getting off to a fine start in the tournament scoring back-to-back fifties for the team. He scored the fifties against KXIP, CSK and RCB but failed in most of the other matches mostly scoring single-digit scores.

Steven Smith
Steven Smith (Image Credit: BCCI/IPL)

Steven Smith Main Issue For Rajasthan Royals – Gautam Gambhir

Steven Smith has an average of more than 40 both in Tests, and ODIs. He also averages 35.35 in IPL with 11 half-centuries and 1 century but have notched only three half-centuries so far in 12 matches. Rajasthan Royals are not able to win matches as they have lost 7, has exposed chinks in his performance both as captain and batsman.

Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir. Image Credit: Getty Images.

Former India batsman Gautam Gambhir believes that Steven Smith is the main issue that is not working out for Rajasthan Royals this season.

“I think Steve Smith is the main issue for Rajasthan Royals, let’s be honest. I have been saying it from Day 1,” Gambhir said on ESPNCricinfo.

Steven Smith has scored only 276 runs in 12 matches despite the fifties in the first two matches against CSK and KXIP both of which Rajasthan Royals won.

Steven Smith’s Place Should Be Taken By Oshane Thomas – Gautam Gambhir

According to Gautam Gambhir, if Rajasthan Royals would drop Steven Smith, it would allow them to pick an overseas pacer like Oshane Thomas, which would help Jofra Archer in the bowling attack.

“Steve Smith drops himself and RR can pick themselves Oshane Thomas or any other overseas seamer in his place alongside Jofra Archer. His performance will go up.

“Whoever is the captain can use Archer in a better way. I remember the game against Delhi Capitals – they were 10/2. And they had only used 2 overs from Jofra Archer,” he added.

Oshane Thomas
Oshane Thomas. Photo Credit: BCCI/IPL.

“If they had one more overseas pacer, they could have bowled 3 overs from Archer in the first six – and try and actually seal the game then and there. Just because you know there is not enough depth and quality apart from Jofra Archer, so you have to only use 2 overs from Archer,” Gambhir added.

Steven Smith again failed to fire on Sunday as he scored just 11 runs. But Rajasthan Royals still managed to beat Mumbai Indians by eight wickets due to a match-winning hundred from Ben Stokes and a fifty from Sanju Samson.

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