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India veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said that he broke the Australia batter Steve Smith's sound game plans ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Smith is one of the finest batters of the current era, he started his career as a lower-order batter, and Smith has etched his name among the greatest batters to have played international cricket.
His duels with top bowlers of this generation have been captivating to watch. Among his toughest opponents, Indian offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin described the former Australian captain as a "fascinating player" whose strategies he has successfully deciphered.
“Steve Smith is someone that’s fascinating as a player against spin, especially. He has his own unique technique, even playing fast bowling. But with spin, I think he came in with sound game plans, sound preparations and yeah, he used to execute it come what may. And over the years I’ve found ways and means to be able to break it down," Ashwin told 7Cricket.
Ashwin says having observed Smith from close quarters during their time as IPL teammates at Delhi Capitals and Rising Pune Supergiants, it gave him an insight into how the batting superstar goes about his business.
“His time at Delhi Capitals, his time at RPSG (Rising Pune Supergiants), all these net sessions that I’ve seen him go about his business really gave me an insight as to how he prepares and what he likes and what he doesn’t like," Ashwin said.
“He’s a very thinking cricketer as well. He wants to get one up on you all the time. But he’s got very unique ways of practising and unique ways of battling out with you in the middle. And sometimes, as a bowler, when you’re watching a batter go through his process you do identify whether you have him or not," he added.
Smith and Ashwin will now face each other in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 which is scheduled to start from November 22. Rohit Sharma-led India will play five Test matches against Australia on their home soil to seal the berth for World Test Championship (WTC) final. The Men in Blue need to win 4-0 in the upcoming series against Australia to feature in WTC Final which is scheduled to take place in England next year.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 schedule
The opening Test match of the series between Australia and India will kick off in Perth, running from November 22 to 26. The teams will then move to Adelaide Oval for the second Test, a Day/Night game scheduled for December 6 to 10. Following that, the third Test is set for The Gabba in Brisbane, from December 14 to 18. The fourth match will be hosted at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30, and the series will conclude with the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, held from January 3 to 7.
India squad for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
Rohit Sharma (C), Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar.
Travelling reserves: Mukesh Kumar, Navdeep Saini, Khaleel Ahmed.
