India vs Australia 2020: 3 standout players from the series

#2 Steve Smith

Although his two efforts came in a losing cause, Steve Smith once again demonstrated what a genius with the bat he is. With 229 runs in two innings at an average of 114.50 and a strike rate of 97.86, Smith, not for the first time, proved to be a thorn in India’s flesh.

After not being needed to bat in the first game as Finch and Warner went berserk, Smith’s 98 from 102 kept Australia’s hopes alive in a tough chase of 341 at Rajkot. Australia were reasonably placed at 221 for 4 in the 38th over when Kuldeep Yadav got through his defences with a clever piece of bowling. Had Smith stayed longer, Australia would have definitely got closer.

Smith carried on the great work in the Bengaluru ODI as well. After being involved in a horrible mix-up with skipper Finch, Smith put his head down and compiled a quite magnificent 131 from 132 balls.

Apart from Marnus Labuschagne (54) no one else provided much support to Smith, which is why Australia could only post 286 - with Smith contributing a little under half the runs.

Smith’s success and Australia’s loss reiterates that cricket, at the end of the day, is a team sport.