After leading Australia to a dominant victory over India in the third Test, stand-in captain Steve Smith has revealed that he enjoys captaining in India the most due to the predictable behavior of the pitch. The 33-year-old’s comments came after the tourists defeated India by nine wickets in just three days at the Holkar Stadium in Indore, having lost the first two Tests of the series. Smith, who was filling in for Pat Cummins in Indore, played a crucial role in the win, leading his team to secure a spot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval in June. Despite early jitters, Australia chased down the required 76 runs in the fourth innings to seal their victory.
Following Australia’s impressive win over India, stand-in captain Steve Smith spoke to SEN Radio and revealed that he enjoys captaining in India due to the complexities of the game and the need to maintain a specific tempo. Smith praised his team’s adherence to their methods and processes, which he believes is the key to their success. He stated that every ball is significant in India and can impact the next ball, making it essential to move players around and adjust accordingly.
Smith’s tactics and leadership played a vital role in Australia’s impressive victory over India. Smith’s captaincy during the match received widespread acclaim from experts on both sides of the border. He made effective bowling and fielding changes for the spinners, bringing on Matthew Kuhnemann as a first-change bowler in the first innings. The left-arm spinner responded by taking two quick wickets, eventually taking a fifer and helping the visitors bowl India out for 109.
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Smith praised his three spinners for their teamwork and selflessness in Australia’s win against India, as he had to rotate them strategically. He emphasized the need to remove ego from the equation and trust his decisions. The team responded well to his approach. This win made Smith the only overseas captain to have won two Tests on Indian soil on multiple tours recently.
