Everyone wrote us off expecting India to win 4-0: Steve Smith

It was all joyous scenes for the Australian camp when they managed to stun the hosts in the first Test at Pune. Australia thoroughly outplayed India in the match to take a 1-0 lead in the 4-match Test series. Aussie skipper Steve Smith scored a brilliant ton in the second innings. Albeit he had his share of luck in the innings, the way he mastered the tricky conditions is worth an applause. As per the quotes in the Indian Express, the Aussie skipper remarked that the Indian team dug their own grave in the match by creating a rank turner.

He said that the hosts had every right to prepare the kind of track they wished for. However, they ended up creating one that suited the Aussie spinner instead. He lauded the efforts of his bowlers for bundling out India under 110 in both the innings.

“It was up to them to prepare a wicket and they prepared a wicket that actually played into our hands. I think it was certainly a wicket that was likely to suit the Indian players. I think it evened up the contest a lot more. We saw the way our spinners bowled on that. They were able to generate some good spin and good natural variation out of the wicket,” quoted Steve Smith.

He further added that he is quite excited to see the kind of track that gets ready for the second Test at Bengaluru on March 4. He rated the 333 run over India in this game as one of the best by the side in the Indian conditions. The last time Australia had won a Test in India was back in 2004.

Also read- India v Australia 1st Test – Australia Player Ratings

“It would be interesting to see what they come up with come Bangalore (for the second Test commencing March 4). Coming to India, we haven’t won a game here in 4,502 days. I have been told those facts. So it has been an incredibly long time. Guys have been excited by the opportunity to come and play here. We know it’s a great challenge and in this game the boys were up to the challenge,” said the Aussie skipper.

Speaking further on the series, Steve Smith cited that nobody gave the visitors a chance in the series. People were predicting a 4-0 defeat for Australia. Smith remarked that the possibility is now out of the equation for sure. He noted that the Indian team will surely try to bounce back in the next match. Hence, they will have to be at their very best yet again.

“The pressure was on us. Everyone wrote us off and expected India to win 4-0. That can’t happen anymore. It’s great to have won this first Test match and there is still long way to go throughout this series. India are going to come back hard. I am really proud of the way the boys have played in this test match and go one-up in this series,” said Smith.

“But it is going to be a tough road. We know India are going to come back incredibly hard. They are an amazing team particularly in their own backyard. They are going to come back hard. And we have got to be ready for it,” he added further.

Giving a word on his counterpart, Indian skipper Virat Kohli, Steve Smith said that Kohli lost his patience which led to hiw twin failure in the match. He pointed out how Kohli looked miffed when his fielders dropped catches in the field. Smith expects Kohli to come back strong in the next match.

“I think he was getting a little bit angry on the fielders for dropping catches. He is obviously a world class player and we expect him to comeback hard. Players miss out now and then and unfortunately he missed out for us in this game,” Smith conceded.