Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 - Twitter reacts to Steve Smith being named Australia's captain in Pat Cummins' absence

Ever since the news of Australia cricketer Steve Smith being named captain in Pat Cummins' absence for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 has been broken, social media is abuzz with comments from cricket enthusiasts. There is also a variety of memes about the latest development.

Steve Smith has been handed over his former post of captaining Australia. Regular skipper Pat Cummins will stay back in his home country, Australia, to attend to his ailing mother. Mother of Cummins is currently on palliative care. The Aussie Test skipper issued a formal statement to this effect.

"I have decided against returning to India at this time as my mother is ill and in palliative care. I feel I am best being here with my family. I appreciate the overwhelming support I have received from Cricket Australia and my team-mates. Thanks for your understanding," the statement issued by Cummins read.

'Cheat Steve Smith': Mixed reactions over Steve Smith being appointed stand-in captain

Netizens are not keeping quiet. The micro-blogging site Twitter is abuzz with fans expressing their thoughts about the 33-year-old being appointed as Australia captain in place of Pat Cummins. Some reactions are funny and some others very harsh.

Here's how Twitter reacted :-

'Sandpaper Gate' cheat Steve Smith will lead Australia in third Test of BGT Series as Pat Cummins will be away!#INDvAUS #SteveSmith #sandpaperhttps://t.co/sLv4KZ3qfv

— Jai Hind (@kannandelhi) February 24, 2023

After many times we will see el- classico between India and Australia in India. https://t.co/sH9TRoLdtj

— Rishabh Pant Stan (@Siddharth_ICT) February 24, 2023

Smith - We will surprise Team india in the 3rd test match at indore

Reporter - How?

Smith - We won't go to indore 👍🏻 #SupremeCourt #SteveSmith

— Ankur Sharma (@AnkurSh24882614) February 24, 2023

India has to be wary of change of luck of Oz team under a Captain #SteveSmith who was successful in the past.#BGT2023

— Srikanth (@srikanthan09) February 24, 2023

Steve Smith will lead Aussies in third test against India ❤️🥳 pic.twitter.com/LuXUcyw2u3

— Hassan Zahid🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇦🇪 | HBD Zahra 🎂❤️ (@Iam_hassan10) February 24, 2023

The thing about Cummins' departure that is striking is the replacement. The appointment of Steve Smith as captain is an abandonment of all those holier-than-thou principles that were spouted after #Sandpapergate. Said it then as well, they over reacted. But having done so, it is

— Nikhil Mehra (@TweetinderKaul) February 24, 2023

Steve smith should not captain
Australia

— Aussie Proud (@Slayer8Woke) February 24, 2023

Some Twitter users employed witticism to take a dig at Steve Smith. Others tried their best to make Smith recall the so-called Sandpaper gate, Newlands 2018.    

With such a change in captaincy midway for Australia, it will be only a matter of time to see whether Australia have a change of luck as well. So far, the ongoing four-match Test series has been a completely one-sided affair.

India are currently leading the four-match Test series 2-0 and have successfully retained the Trophy. They will be locking horns with Australia in the third Test, commencing from March 1, at the Holkar Stadium, in Indore. Australia have been at the receiving end of immense criticism following their lack of intensity in the opening two Tests, which they lost by considerable margins.

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