Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra isn’t convinced about Steve Smith being a key player in T20 cricket after his slightly slow half-century in the first T20I between India and Australia on Thursday as well. However, Smith scored a 41-ball 52 as Australia set the Indian team a 209-run target in Visakhapatnam. India then chased down the target with two wickets and a delivery to spare to begin the five-match series on a winning note.

Reflecting on Australia’s batting in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “I am slightly 50-50 in my mind about Steve Smith – good or bad. He continued playing at a run-a-ball for a long time. He started very well but then he was a run-a-ball. Is he a long-term T20 player for Australia – I am not going to decide on that. It doesn’t make a difference to me. He is too good a player and such players find a way. They have new ways of upgrading their game. However, based on what we saw in the first match in Vizag, one thing is clear that he needs pace. He is a great player but I don’t see him making a big impact in T20s.”

Aakash Chopra isn’t sure whether Steve Smith will get an IPL contract even if he makes himself available, saying that teams won’t be able to find a role for him. On the other hand, Aakash Chopra reckons Josh Inglis might find some teams at the IPL 2024 auction as well.

“Josh Inglis scored a century, and when I watched him playing, I felt like an IPL contract could be loading because he played extremely well. He plays well against both spin and fast bowling and in such conditions where the ball comes nicely onto the bat, he is a very decent player,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “The way he played the Indian spinners, he hit a four off the first ball with a drive, and then inside out over cover and sweeps. He also plays the short ball well. He has a low center of gravity in his stance and he reminded me of Glenn Maxwell in one shot – he reverse-swept a fast bowler for a four.”