IND vs AUS 2023: Steve Smith understands the tempo of cricket in India better than Pat Cummins, says Ravi Shastri

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri believes Steve Smith understands the tempo of cricket in India better than Pat Cummins. Smith had led Australia in the 2017 tour of India, in which the visitors had lost by 2-1.

However, Australia lost the first two Test matches of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series under the leadership of Pat Cummins. The tourists lost the first Test match at Nagpur by an innings and 132 runs and lost the Delhi Test by six wickets.

After the second Test match, Cummins had to return back to Australia to be with his ailing mother. The Australian decided to be with his family during the testing times and thus he was ruled out of the third Test.

Meanwhile, it is well known that Steve Smith has more experience of leading in Indian conditions than Pat Cummins. Shastri feels Smith thrives on leading with an extra workload.

“Australia do have a ready-made replacement at the top in Steve Smith. And I think that will work for them. The responsibility of captaincy seems to bring that different kind of mindset. His concentration levels seem far higher, and you just have to look at his batting average as captain. It is outstanding. He is one of those players who thrives on the extra workload of leading the side,” wrote Shastri for the Age.

“There’s also the added element of how Smith will lead Australia here. He’s got a great understanding of Indian conditions, having led here before and also all the years he’s spent playing and captaining in the IPL. He understands the tempo of cricket in India better than what Cummins would have,” Shastri added.

Shastri feels Australia will have a better balance in their squad with all-rounder Cameron Green making a comeback into the final XI. Green and Mitchell Starc replaced David Warner and Pat Cummins in the third Test.

“With Cameron Green coming back, Australia has six proper batters and even if two of them come off, they could score close to 300 and more in their first innings. That is key in Indore,” said Shastri.

Meanwhile, India is in a pickle at 84-7 in the first innings of the third Test match.