One of the most famous Australian faces, Steve Smith has a distinguished Test record. And, after winning the MLC championship, will it be a turnaround for him in IPL as well?
You can’t find a better player than Steve Smith in Test cricket, especially considering his consistent performance. However, it is also true that this star batter has faced challenges in settling into the T20 format. The best example is his exclusion from Australia’s squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup. While his unorthodox technique and sheer consistency have clearly made him a red-ball superstar, his suitability for T20 cricket remains in doubt.
Despite this, it seems Steve Smith is eager to make an impact in T20 cricket as well, as he recently expressed his desire to return to the IPL. The right-handed batter began his IPL journey in 2012 and was last seen playing for the Delhi Capitals under the leadership of Rishabh Pant. However, no one can deny that his best performance came during his years with the Rajasthan Royals, particularly in 2020, where he scored 311 runs in 14 games with a decent strike rate of 131.
Amid all the excitement of the IPL, the question remains: Will we see the unorthodox batting of Steve Smith once again?
Last seen in the IPL in 2021, Steve Smith has not had a particularly distinguished T20 history, especially in recent years, but his current form could lead to a triumphant return. Leading the Washington Freedom to their first MLC championship in 2024, the former Australian captain topped the team’s run statistics. As the third-highest run scorer in the competition, Smith amassed 336 runs at a strike rate of 148.67. His performance has sparked discussions about an IPL comeback.
Smith has played for several teams in the IPL, including the Rising Pune Supergiants, Pune Warriors India, Rajasthan Royals, and Delhi Capitals. With over 103 matches of experience, he has also contributed with his leg spin when needed. In total, he has played 103 matches and scored over 2,485 runs with an average of 34.51.
Although his strike rate has sometimes faced criticism for being relatively low. He has been an effective leader, captaining both RPS and Rajasthan Royals. He even led RPS to the IPL final in 2017. It will be interesting to see how things goes for him this time, as he has already expressed interest in participating in IPL 2025.
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