Steve Smith understands the tempo of cricket in India better than Pat Cummins: Ravi Shastri

India and Australia have locked horns in the third Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. Rohit Sharma and Co. won the first two Tests and consequently retained the Trophy. The hosts have to win one more Test to secure their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval in June.

Before the start of the third Test, former India coach Ravi Shastri said that Steve Smith understands the tempo of cricket in India better than Pat Cummins. Notably, Smith is leading Australia as Cummins has traveled back home after the second Test due to personal reasons.

Shastri was full of praise for Smith, saying Australia made a better replacement. The former all-rounder said his batting average as a captain is outstanding. He also said the 33-year-old cricketer is one of those players who thrives on the extra workload while captaining the team.

“Australia do have a ready-made replacement at the top in Steve Smith. And I think that will work for them. The responsibility of captaincy seems to bring that different kind of mindset. His concentration levels seem far higher, and you just have to look at his batting average as captain. It is outstanding. He is one of those players who thrives on the extra workload of leading the side,” Shastri wrote in his column for The Age.

"There’s also the added element of how Smith will lead Australia here. He’s got a great understanding of Indian conditions, having led here before and also all the years he’s spent playing and captaining in the IPL. He understands the tempo of cricket in India better than what Cummins would have,” he added.

Talking about the match, India won the toss and decided to bat first but were bundled out for 109 with Matthew Kuhnemann claiming a five-wicket haul.