Star Australia batter Steve Smith is eyeing a return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) after his prolific run with the bat in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024. Notably, Smith finished as the second-highest run scorer of the tournament with 336 runs to his name from nine innings at an average of 56 and a strike rate of 148.67 with three half-centuries.
Leading Washington Freedom in the tournament, the right-handed batter played a match-winning knock of 88 (52) helping his team win their maiden MLC title. Following his remarkable run in the tournament, the 35-year-old is looking for an opportunity to play in the IPL.
“I’d certainly love another opportunity at IPL. I’ll be throwing my name in the ring, and we’ll see how we go. I feel like in every opportunity I’ve had in T20 cricket recently and franchise stuff, I’ve played quite nicely. So hopefully I just keep putting my name up there and enjoying it,” Smith was quoted as saying by FOX Cricket.
Notably, Smith last played in the IPL in 2021 for Delhi Capitals and didn’t have a memorable outing in the tournament. He could only amass 152 runs from eight matches at an average of 25.33 and a strike rate of 112.59. As a result, the star batter went unsold in the last two auctions.
Smith comments on his T20I snub
In his IPL career, Smith has scored 2485 runs from 103 matches at an average of 34.51 and a strike rate of 128.09 with one hundred and 11 fifties. Further speaking ahead, the Sydney-born cricketer commented on his snub from the T20I side and said that he’s quite unsure of what’s happening there but he will keep on improving himself.
“In terms of international T20s, I don’t know what’s going on there. They’ve obviously got some people they want to bring in, and that’s fine. I understood the way that they wanted to stack up for the World Cup, with all the strong guys that smack it miles. I understood that. I’m not that fussed. I’ll just go about my business, keep trying to improve and get better,” he added.
Smith last played a T20I back in February against New Zealand and missed out on the squad for the T20 World Cup and the upcoming tours of Scotland and England. He has 1094 runs to his name from 67 matches in the shortest format at an average of 24.86.
