Internet Desk: Australia skipper Steve Smith has almost spent four months in India an now there is only on match left before he leaves the country. After spending a long time in India, the Aussie captain posted a heartfelt message to fans on instagram ahead of the blockbuster final of the Indian Premier League season 10 against Mumbai Indians in Hyderabad on Sunday.
Smith arrived in India in February for the four-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and stayed on to captain Rising Pune Supergiant to tonight’s Indian Premier League final against Mumbai Indians.
Smith wrote in the post on Instagram: “The last 4 months here in India have been incredible. There has been some ups and downs along the way but I’ve learnt such a great deal.
“The Test matches were tough but so enjoyable to be apart of. I’ve met some wonderful people, and I’ve made some new friends.
“The IPL and playing with Pune has been a terrific experience and I look forward to spending my last night here in India battling it out in the Final. Thank you to everyone here in India that has made this trip so unforgettable. #grateful #opportunity”
The 27-year-old has had a mixed reception during his time in the subcontinent.
A fighting century in the upset opening Test victory against in India in Pune won him plenty of respect from both fans and detractors, but that good will didn’t last long.
Smith became public enemy No.1 when he was caught looking at his dressing room while deciding whether to review his dismissal in Australia’s doomed run chase in the second Test in Bengaluru.
It prompted rival skipper Virat Kohli to accuse Smith and his charges of systematic cheating of which no evidence was found to support the Indian’s claim.
It didn’t matter, the fuse had been lit, and for the rest of the series the tension between the two sides bubbled near boiling point.
But amid the animosity, Smith’s batting once again did the talking with a superb century in Ranchi and then perhaps his finest hundred in the Baggy Green in the fourth Test in Dharamsala.
While Australia lost the series 2-1, Smith was undoubtedly the best batsman of the tour and reaffirmed his status as the premier Test batsman in the world.
Despite the fierce rivalry during the Test series, Smith and his India rivals quickly smoked the peace pipe when it came time for the IPL, where the Pune fans forgot he was a bitter national opponent.
Instead, he was the captain of the Supergiant, taking over the top job from legendary India wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni.
Smith’s nous as a leader has grown another level this season as Pune finished second on the IPL ladder before stunning table-topping Mumbai Indians in the Qualifying final to reach the IPL decider.
While Pune fans adore their skipper, so too do the youngsters playing under Smith.
But the Australian has given the side’s young crop credit in getting the fledgling franchise to the tournament decider.
Pune’s Indian talent in Washington Sundar and Rahul Tripathi have won crucial games for the side that boasts of star players like Smith, Dhoni and Ben Stokes.
Opening batsman Tripathi (388 runs in 13 games) remains Pune’s second-highest run-getter behind Smith, providing the team with many quick starts in the current season.
But it was lanky off-spinner Sundar who made heads turn with his match-winning haul of three wickets against Mumbai Indians in the first qualifier to seal his team’s final spot.
The 17-year-old Sundar made up for the absence of Stokes, who returned to England for national duty after playing a key role in the team’s entry into the playoffs.
“Those guys are quite young and have not played those high pressure final games,” Smith told reporters on the eve of the IPL final against Mumbai Indians in Hyderabad on Sunday.
“That can play into your favour sometimes. They can play with freedom and do the job
“I thought Washington was absolutely fantastic the other night in Mumbai. For a 17-year-old to come out against some quality players and do what he did was outstanding.
“The young guys have been a real big part of our success so far throughout this tournament and hopefully they can have better success (Sunday) night.