[Watch] Steve Smith completes back-to-back hundreds in style on Day 2 of BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Australia's ace batter Steve Smith's love affair with the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) continued as he notched up a fine century in the ongoing Boxing Day Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 against India. The 35-year-old crossed the 100-run mark on Day 2 (Friday, December 27).

Smith walked out to bat on Day 2 with an overnight score of 68*. He looked focused on the second day, countering the Indian bowlers with great aplomb. The veteran batter reached his ton with a glorious cover drive off Nitish Kumar Reddy's bowling in the 101st over of the innings.

The former Australia captain was delighted as he celebrated his 34th Test ton. He received thunderous applause from the Melbourne crowd and soaked in the reaction by removing his helmet and raising his bat.

Here's a video of Smith's century celebration in the Boxing Day Test:

Steve Smith kicked off the BGT 2024-25 series with back-to-back failures in the Perth Test, registering scores of 0 and 17. He was dismissed for just two runs in the subsequent pink-ball Test in Adelaide.

However, Smith redeemed himself with a 101-run knock in the Brisbane Test. The right-handed batter seems to have found his footing after initial setbacks in the series and now has two consecutive tons to his name.

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Steve Smith becomes the first batter to hit 11 Test centuries against India

Steve Smith loves facing India and has a stellar record against them. With his century in the ongoing Boxing Day Test of the BGT 2024-25 series, the batter became the first player to score 11 Test centuries (43 innings) against India. He eclipsed England's Joe Root, who has 10 centuries across 55 innings.

Smith formed a brilliant 112-run partnership for the seventh wicket with skipper Pat Cummins in the first innings of the fourth BGT 2024-25 Test to propel his team into the pole position. Australia ended the first session of Day 2 at 454/7.