Steve Smith Should Be Offered India's Citizenship, Jokes Aakash Chopra

Steve Smith, or as the fans relate to him, Steve ‘Unstoppable’ Smith, notched his 10 ODI ton on Friday against India in front of his home crowd in Sydney. With the help of hundreds from Smith, Aaron Finch, a half-century from David Warner, and a quick cameo from Glenn Maxwell, Australia posted a gigantic total of 374, to which India was always going to fall short in the chase.

Smith came in after the 156-run opening stand between Warner and Finch. At the score of 15, Smith was adjudged lbw by the umpire. The decision was eventually reversed when the right-hander reviews it. He was given another life on 38, as Shikhar Dhawan made a judgement error by standing well inside the boundary rope and not near it.

Smith capitalized on the chances as he smoked his way to the third-fastest ton by an Aussie in ODIs. The 31-year-old scored 105 from 66 balls with 11 fours and 4 sixes. Smith didn’t spare any bowler, smashing each of the five Indian bowlers around the park, before being dismissed in the last over of the inning.

Steve Smith’s record against India:

Steve Smith has an envious record in ODIs and Tests against India. The New South Wales batsman just loves scoring against the Asian giants.

In ODIs, against India, Smith has 4 centuries and 5 half-centuries – including a hundred in the 2015 World Cup semi-final – in 16 innings. He averages 63.25 at a strike rate of 102.22 versus the men in blue in ODIs. In red-ball cricket, the toughest format of all, the former  Aussie captain averages a monumental 84 against India with 7 tons and 3 fifties in 10 Test matches.

In regards to these unreal numbers of Steve Smith against a challenging bowling attack of India, Aakash Chopra funnily stated that the Aussie batsman should be offered Indian citizenship, as he loves its bowlers so much. On a serious note, Chopra feels that the Indian team should prepare more thoroughly to tackle Steve Smith, especially during the Test series.

Smith was Player of the Series when India toured Australia in 2014-15 for 4 Tests. He missed the previous visit by Virat Kohli’s team as he was serving his year-long ban due to participating in the Sandpaper gate scandal.

Aakash Chopra tweeted, “Since Smith loves India so much, might as well offer him the citizenship. Inka Aadhaar Card banvaiye please. Ominous signs for the entire tour.” 

India will face Aaron Finch’s Australia on Sunday in a hope to level the series. The match will take place at the same venue, Sydney Cricket Ground.

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

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