‘GOAT recognizes GOAT’ - Ravichandran Ashwin praises Steve Smith for brilliant captaincy after Australia wins ODI series against India

Ravichandran Ashwin, Steve Smith (Image Credit: Twitter)

Star Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin praised Steve Smith post Australia's 2-1 win against India. The visitors were trailing by 0-1 after losing the first ODI in Mumbai by five wickets. After that, the Aussies went on to win back-to-back matches in Vizag and Chennai respectively to clinch the series.

Even though his team lost, Ashwin didn’t hesitate to praise the opposition captain for brilliant field placements. “Steve Smith and captaincy is a match made in heaven,” Ashwin wrote on his social media.

In the series decider, the Steve Smith-led side got bowled out for 269 runs in 49 overs batting first. They started to lose wickets at regular intervals after getting a good start from the openers, Mithcell Marsh (47 off 47) and Travis Head (33 off 31) who added 68 runs for the first wicket in 10.5 overs. After that, the score was reduced to 138 for 5 and Marcus Stoinis (25 off 26) and Alex Carey (38 off 46) put up a partnership of 58 runs for the sixth to take the team’s total beyond 200. Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav scalped three wickets each while Axar Patel and Mohammed Siraj took two each.

India lost the game from a winning position

Chasing the target of 270 runs, India had a pretty good start after the skipper Rohit Sharma (30 off 17) and Shubman Gill (37 off 49) added 65 runs for the first wicket. After that, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul put India in a commanding position with a partnership of 69 runs for the third wicket. But the game changed within a few overs after India started losing wickets regularly. Rahul got out after getting a good start, After that Axar Patel got run out after scoring two runs. Kohli also got out after a well-made half-century (54 off 72), when he tried to take on Ashton Agar in the 36th over. On the very next ball, Suryakumar Yadav got bowled out by Agar to register his third consecutive golden duck in the series.

Australia didn’t give any chance to India to come back into the game after that. Hardik Pandya also lost his wicket after a run-a-ball 40 runs. India got bowled out for 248 runs in 49.1 overs, as Adam Zampa took four wickets. Agar took two, while Stoinis and Sean Abbott shared a wicket each.

What Captiancy ? Your batsmen gifted their wickets. There was no pressure of run rate. India was cruising. Didn't expect a great like Kohli to make same mistake twice and chipping it into the hands of fielder. Accept your weakness in ODIs.

— Rahul 🇮🇳 (@TrueSpikes) March 22, 2023

Rohit Sharma as captain is very lethargic and low energy and lackadaisical at times.
He is good batsman though.
I think Virat or Hardik Pandya must be given full role.

— Chaordic (@Swapnil_UN) March 22, 2023

Smudge as Captain>>>> pic.twitter.com/nRMOO1DkkR

— Chisty Shaik (@KMChisty10) March 22, 2023

Mazraat Ashwin Bhai. People of India when talking about cricket. pic.twitter.com/FfCN0xBFrO

— Waseem Ibrahim (@Wacm2016) March 22, 2023

Instead of praising his captaincy we should do batting practice in nets. Such a gettable target with 10 overs to go and all we do is fail. Series Gone.

— Abhijeet Sinha (@abhijeet_117) March 23, 2023

🔥 pic.twitter.com/KhsSfFoNCO

— KARTHIK DP (@dp_karthik) March 22, 2023

Yeah but we were not this weak in ODI and T20 under Kohli - Shashtri era.. All credit goes to Rohit and Dravid to bring us to this level.. Disaster T20WC already gone and now 50 Over WC is also not looking good..

— Amit Singh (@ER_amitksingh) March 22, 2023

Pat Cummins be like captaincy khatre main hain pic.twitter.com/W1dEm1H1gs

— Vishal Deshmukh (@kaafiAverage) March 23, 2023

🌚 pic.twitter.com/bN0azo9Mv1

— Abhijith N S (@Abhijithshet7) March 22, 2023