Australian contingent might get hostile reception in IPL-10, says Australian media

After a memorable yet bitter Test series played in the recent past, members of the Australian team may get a hostile reception when they walk out to play for their respective IPL teams, a top Australian website said. Interestingly, big Australian cricketers – Smith, Warner and Maxwell – will captain a franchise each this season.

Smith had a great Test series with the bat against India earlier this year but had a torrid time otherwise as he landed himself into controversies every now and again. Rising Pune Supregiant, the franchise Smith plays for, already miffed a lot of fans across India when they replaced Dhoni with Smith as the captain of their side.

“After leading Australia through the most spiteful Test series in recent memory, and being central to every controversial moment of the past six weeks, the world’s No.1 batsman has stepped into another hornet’s nest in the form of the Indian Premier League” forxsports.com.au said.

“Smith is one of seven members of Australia’s defeated Test touring party who will link with IPL clubs ahead of the world’s richest cricket tournament which gets underway on Thursday when David Warner’s Sunrisers Hyderabad host Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore,” forxsports.com.au added.

It said that because Smith took over the captaincy from Indian legend Dhoni, he faces a “PR challenge” as the decision was widely criticised. While Smith has said that the captaincy change will not affect his professional relationship with Dhoni, the crowds will leave no stone unturned in putting Smith under pressure.

Maxwell was recently rewarded with the captaincy of Kings XI Punjab, a franchise he represents since 2014. He did not earn much respect amongst the Indian fans when he mocked Kohli’s shoulder injury by clutching his shoulder whilst having a big grin on his face. He will have India wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha in his side, who recently had a great Test series against Australia. Saha preferred not to talk much about Maxwell’s appointment as the captain of the franchise he plays in.

“That will be in the IPL. I have to accept the team’s (KXIP) decision,” he said.

“What happened is now in the past. The feeling now is very good after winning the series.”

David Warner’s fan following in India sky rocketed last year when he led his team Sunrisers Hyderabad to the IPL title. Though Warner was not involved in a lot of on-field clashes last month, the crowds might still have a go at him given that he was a part of the Test series.

Hostile reception or not; one thing is for sure that the Australians are thorough professionals and even if they are booed during the IPL, they will make sure that it doesn’t affect their performances in the 46-day tournament.