Former Indian cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has suggested Indian citizenship for Australia batsman Steve Smith after his brilliant century against Team India in the first ODI of the three-match series on Friday (November 27), considering his fondness for the team's bowling attack.
The right-hander entered into the ODI series on the back of a forgettable IPL 2020 in the UAE where he struggled to put up big runs while leading Rajasthan Royals but rediscovered his form immediately at the international level as he kicked off the home season with a record ton.
Smith smashed the Indian bowlers in all the directions of Sydney Cricket Ground to score a scintillating knock of 105 runs off just 66 balls – the third-fastest ODI century by an Australian batsman to help the hosts post a mammoth total of 374/6 against India.
The Men in Blue fell 66 runs short in the first ODI as Australia took a 1-0 lead in the ongoing three-match series with the second ODI to take place at the same venue on Sunday, November 29.
After the first Australia-India ODI at SCG, Chopra took to Twitter on Friday to jokingly suggest that Smith should be given Indian citizenship given his fondness for India.
He wrote on Twitter: “Since Smith loves India so much, might as well offer him citizenship. Inka Aadhaar Card banvaiye please. Ominous signs for the entire tour.”
Noteworthy, before the start of the ODI series, Smith had admitted his discontent with his IPL 2020 campaign but said he has now found his hands and he proved it in the first ODI.
Smith had said: “I was pretty disappointed with my batting throughout the IPL. For my sort of standards, I wasn’t consistent enough. I did play a few innings here and there but not consistently. I think in the last few days, people who know me well, said that I have found my hands and I am excited about it. So I plan to have a few more hits at the nets and get started in a few days time.”
