IPL 2019: We Will Welcome Steven Smith With Love, Mistakes Can Happen - Ajinkya Rahane

Ever since the ban Steven Smith imposed, the flamboyant batsman missed a lot of cricket in International Circuit. Besides that, if he would feel for missing any tournament, it would be Indian Premier League. After a couple of years, he was about to rejoin Rajasthan Royals and assigned to lead the team. But, unfortunately, he missed it and Ajinkya Rahane was asked to lead.

Meanwhile, the former skipper was all set to make a comeback with the ban being concluded ahead of IPL 2019. However, Elbow injury has made things tough for Smith for a quick return. In between, the current skipper Ajinkya Rahane expressed his happiness for having Steven Smith back.

Steven Smith is one of our own players – Ajinkya Rahane

The right-handed batsman Ajinkya Rahane is confident that the services of Steven Smith are valuable for the team. Further, he expressed that the team would welcome the discarded cricketer with all the love despite the mistake he committed while playing for Australia.

Ajinkya Rahane went on to laud Rajasthan Royals for backing their players. He believes that in a franchise like Rajasthan Royals, Steven Smith can easily forget all those past things and help the team do better in the pressure-filled tournament.

”We all know how good Steve Smith is as a player and what he did in the past for Royals and for Australian cricket. Mistakes can happen and Rajasthan Royals is a team that believes in backing players,” Rahane quoted.

”Definitely, we will welcome Steve Smith with love because he is our player and he is one of our own. It is good to have him and I’m sure his inputs and experience will benefit us,” Ajinkya Rahane said in an interview to Hindustan Times.

Well, as Ajinkya Rahane said, Rajasthan Royals have always backed their players. They have invested their money in nurturing youngsters and perhaps, this year, it is the time for youngsters to deliver goods for Rajasthan Royals.