Not Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni, Steve Smith reveals his favourite Indian cricketers are Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh!

With news pouring in, it seems the possibilities of a game at the Eden Gardens have improved as rain has till now stayed away

By: Ankit Banerjee |
September 21, 2017 10:57 am

Australian captain Steve Smith became quite popular in India after he featured in the Indian Premier League. Steve Smith is currently marshalling the Australian cricket team in an ODI series against India. Australia has already lost the first One Day International at Chennai by 26 runs, which proved to be quite a damper for the Aussies. But knowing Steve Smith and his ‘never-give-up attitude’, we are certain the Australian team is going to bounce back in the series. The second ODI takes place in Kolkata, but even with the weatherman suggesting that rain might play spoilsport, the game is set to go ahead. Steve Smith has recently revealed his favourite Indian cricketer in an interaction at the Indian Chamber of Commerce and it is neither Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni.

Smith revealed that he was fond of Harbhajan Singh and Sachin Tendulkar. For that matter, both these former Indian legends have enjoyed a lot of success against the mighty Australians. Tendulkar, who is the highest run-scorer in Tests and ODIs, played 39 Tests against Australia and scored 3,630 runs at an average of 55.00 with the help of 11 centuries and 16 half-centuries. On the other hand, Harbhajan picked up a staggering total of 95 wickets in 18 Tests against Australia.

Steve said,

It is a massive rivalry and has been for so long. As a captain, you would love to win a Test series here in India.It is one of the toughest places to come and play. The wicket is so different and there is always great cricket. This one-day and T20 series is no different.

When asked whether he was apprehensive regarding the future of the game, he said:

Some of the other teams are getting a lot better. Bangladesh beat us in the first Test, there is Afghanistan now and they are also producing very good players. You have seen how Rashid Khan has done magnificently in IPL. Cricket is in a pretty good space and continues to grow.

For how long can you keep the ball in the air? #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/wToe8Lc8S3

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 20, 2017

“I love playing every format but Test cricket is ultimate… The real challenge is to bat long… I love every format of the game,” he added.

The second ODI of Australia’s India tour will be played on September 21 in Kolkata, where it was the rainclouds still threaten to play spoilsport.