"Is Steve Smith A Long-Term T20 Player..?" Aakash Chopra

Former India batter Aakash Chopra has expressed his reservations over Steve Smith’s impact as a batsman in T20 cricket. His comments came after Australia’s star performance in the first T20I against India in Vizag on Thursday (November 23).

After his impressive display as an opener in the last Big Bash League season, Steve Smith was asked to open the innings against India. He, however, could not bat at a pace that is expected from an opener in the shortest format of the game. On a good batting pitch where more than 400 runs were scored, Steve Smith’s strike rate hardly went past 100.

He was eventually dismissed for 52 runs off 41 balls. One of the reasons behind his decision to not go all out could be Josh Inglis’ performance at the other end. Inglis fired on all cylinders while the former Australia captain looked more than content to play the role of the second fiddle. Inglis scored 110 runs off just 50 balls. Aakash Chopra, however, was not too impressed with Steve Smith’s display with the bat.

“I am slightly 50-50 in my mind about Steve Smith – good or bad. He continued playing at a run-a-ball for a long time. He started very well but then he was a run-a-ball. Is he a long-term T20 player for Australia – I am not going to decide on that. It doesn’t make a difference to me,” said Aakash Chopra on his YouTube channel.

“He is too good a player and such players find a way. They have new ways of upgrading their game. However, based on what we saw in the first match in Vizag, one thing is clear that he needs pace. He is a great player but I don’t see him making a big impact in T20s,” he added.

Aakash Chopra on Josh Inglis:

With Josh Inglis impressing in the first T20I, Aakash Chopra said that the Australian could be in line to earn an IPL contract in the upcoming auction. The auction for IPL 2024 is scheduled to be held on December 19 in Dubai. The former cricketer-turned-commentator was all praise for the way Inglis played pace and spin in Indian conditions.

“Josh Inglis scored a century, and when I watched him play, I felt like an IPL contract could be loading because he played extremely well. He plays well against both spin and fast bowling and in such conditions where the ball comes nicely onto the bat, he is a very decent player,” said Aakash Chopra.

“The way he played the Indian spinners, he hit a four off the first ball with a drive, and then inside out over cover and sweeps. He also plays the short ball well. He has a low center of gravity in his stance and he reminded me of Glenn Maxwell in one shot – he reverse-swept a fast bowler for a four,” he added.

Talking about the game, India beat Australia 2 wickets to take the lead in the five-match series. Chasing 209, India crossed the finishing line on the secondlast ball of the match.