This is hugeAakash Chopra comments on Steve Smith captaining Australia in Border-Gavaskar trophy

By India Today Sports DeskFormer cricketer Aakash Chopra has said that Steve Smith captaining Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is a huge development.

Smith will step into the shoes of Pat Cummins, who had decided not to return to India in time for the Indore Test due to personal commitments. The star batter had lost the captaincy role after his part in the infamous sandpaper-gate scandal but was reinstated as the vice-captain of the team sometime ago.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, as quoted by Sportskeeda, Chopra said Smith leading the Aussies in the series is a huge development. The former cricketer felt that there was a general perception that the star batter wouldn’t return to any leadership roles after his part in the sandpaper-gate.

“Pat Cummins is not there, so Steve Smith is set to lead Australia. I mean, this is huge. He was obviously not there once in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy – Sandpapergate and all of that – but he is back again.”

“There was a time when Australia decided that he might not be seen captaining again. There was a time-period ban to start with and there was a life ban on (David) Warner.

“When the period was over, everyone believed that he would not be made the captain again, but things change as time elapses,” said Chopra.

Chopra also remembered Smith’s role in the Pune Test win for Australia the last time he was on Indian soil as captain.

“Steve Smith was the one when the Border-Gavaskar Trophy happened last time here. I remember the brainfade match in Bangalore and the Pune match where he defeated India single-handedly. Steve O’Keefe and Steve Smith laid heavy on us,” said Chopra.

The former cricketer also said that Smith’s bat has been a little quiet in the series till now with him having a rough time in the Delhi Test.

“His bat has been slightly quiet in this series thus far. He seemed to be batting well in both innings of the first match and that he might score runs but the second match was absolutely cold,” said Chopra.