Steven Smith’s Pune ton in 2017 one of the best by an overseas player in India, feels VVS Laxman
However, some fans shot back at Laxman saying Smith’s innings was not flawless since he was dropped more than once.
Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman feels among the current generation batsmen, former Australian captain Steven Smith was the one of the most impressive when it came to playing in India. Laxman expressed his viewpoint while replying to a user who asked the question during an interactive question-answer session on Twitter.
Laxman backed his viewpoint by giving the example of Smith’s century in the Test in Pune last year when Australia toured India for a four-match series and lost it 1-2 despite taking a lead in Pune. Smith scored 109 off 202 balls on a turning track on which even the much-vaunted Indian batting line-up was folded below Smith’s own tally twice.
Replying the question on Twitter, “sir which overseas batsman impress u most while playing in india”, Laxman replied: “In the current generation it is Steve Smith. His 100 at pune was one of the best by an overseas player.” However, some fans shot back at Laxman saying Smith’s innings was not flawless since he was dropped more than once while scoring his ton in the second innings but pundits had applauded Smith’s superior application against spinning deliveries to score the hundred where India were defeated in a Test on their home turf after 20 months.
Smith is serving a ban at the moment after the infamous ball tampering incident in South Africa earlier this year along with some of his colleagues and was recently toppled by Indian captain Virat Kohli from the top position in Test batsmen’s rankings earlier this month by the virtue of his rich harvest in the first Test against England at Edgbaston. India though lost the match by 31 runs.
Laxman, the man famous for his historic 281 at the Eden Gardens that saw India turning the tables on Australia from nowhere, answered many other questions during the session. To a question posed by cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle whether he ever lost his cool on a cricket ground and shouted at a colleague or opponent, Laxman said he didn’t remember losing his cool on anyone on anyone though the Twitterati didn’t forget to bring up the name of Pragyan Ojha in counter reply.
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