IPL 2019: Top 3 knocks by Steve Smith in the history of IPL

2. 84* (54) for Rising Pune Supergiant vs Mumbai Indians, IPL 2017

Steve Smith had a good understanding with Ajinkya Rahane

It was the first match of the season for Rising Pune Supergiant. Mumbai Indians had posted a handsome total of 184 for 8 after they were put in to bat first.

The pressure was all on Smith and his troops. Mayank Agarwal had departed, after which Smith came in to bat. However, opener Ajinkya Rahane was at the crease and was playing briskly.

It was an intelligent innings from the Aussie player as he did not take many risks while Rahane was firing at the other end. He tried to give the Maharashtra-born player the majority of the crease. However, once Rahane departed, the 29-year-old took the responsibility upon himself.

He started scoring his runs at a blistering pace, and hit 7 fours and 3 sixes on his way to 84 runs. Again, Smith batted throughout the innings and won the match for his team in nerve-racking fashion.

13 runs were needed in the last over. Kieron Pollard was the bowler and MS Dhoni was on strike. RPS could only manage 3 singles in the first 3 balls, and they needed 10 runs off the last 3 deliveries.

Smith kept his cool and clobbered back-to-back sixes to win it for RPS. It was a brilliant knock indeed, which again won him the Man of the Match award.

Smith also finished as the highest run-getter for RPS in the 2017 season, amassing a total of 472 runs in 15 matches at an average of 39.33.