India is currently hosting Australia in four-match Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The third test of the series will be played on March 1 at Holkar Stadium, Indore. Meanwhile, star Australian batter Steve Smith will lead the side in the absence of skipper Pat Cummins. Notably, Cummins is in Australia with his ill mother.
Smith will lead the Australian side for the third time after becoming a deputy to Cummins in the longest format of the game. Smith will have to handle the visitors with ease and lead them to a comfortable situation in the series. Rohit Sharma led the Indian team and is currently leading the series by a margin of 2-0.
Smith was a full-time Australia captain from 2014 to 2018 until the ‘Sandpaper Gate” ended his tenure. He captained the team that toured India in 2017 and led from the front with the bat. However, Australia went down 2-1 to the hosts in a hard-fought series.
India will look to qualify for Test Championship
India, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, is eyeing a spot in the finals of the Test Championship. To qualify for the finals of the marquee event, India needs to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by a margin of two matches. If India manages to win or draw the third test, they will surely qualify for the tournament.
Notably, with a 2-0 advantage, India has already retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for four straight series. Now Australia will need to win both remaining tests to tie the four-match series.
Australia, on the other hand, will have the services of fit-again all-rounder Cameron Green and left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Starc.Although, Australia will miss the services of opener David Warner, pacer Josh Hazelwood, and spinner Aston Agar, who has been released from the squad and sent back to Australia.
Meanwhile, Twitter reacts to the news that Steve Smith is leading Australia against India. In reference to the sandpaper gate, one Twitter user wrote, “umpire ko bolo phle pocket dekh le.”
Here are some Tweets:
The best captain australia can get
— Sahil (@kohlibhakt018) February 27, 2023
Captain Smith scoring a century, bookmarks this tweet 👍
— Bakri Player (@cric_nerd2) February 27, 2023
Can't believe we are back to the era where Steve Smith is an Aussie captain
— K.Shah (@kshitijshah23) February 27, 2023
When last time Smith captained this happened. Hope it won't happen this time pic.twitter.com/kQPFtRRCct
— Cricket Crazy (@CrazyinCricket) February 27, 2023
0 cares…
ASH will take care of him— 𝘽¹⁸ (@mallichudam) February 27, 2023
Baap of test cricket
— वेदांत 😎(Radhe Mohan Version) (@KohliDrive74) February 27, 2023
don't worry rohit will owned him
— OPERATOR (@Rahu_lChate) February 27, 2023
Time to bring down the Average pic.twitter.com/AFyJ1RhGvo
— PJ says (@PjPriyank2) February 27, 2023
Should check pockets
— Elijah Impey 🍋🌶️ (@BreatheRaina) February 27, 2023
Best test batsman ❤️
— The Boy From Mars (@TheBoyFromMars2) February 27, 2023
Don't worry his average gonna decrease after the last two match :')
— Aadi071845 (@AdityaJ20820230) February 27, 2023
