Smith takes ‘Puneri Avatar’ after bitter India series

SMITH HAS REPLACED MS DHONI AS THE PUNE CAPTAIN AND SAID HE WOULD LIKE THE TEAM IN HIS OWN WAY.

mumbai: Steve Smith is hoping for a new start in India and he seems to take Indian Premier League (IPL) as the catalyst.

After a bitter India-australia series, that saw tempers flare in both sides, the captain from Down Under is looking for a fresh beginning with Rising Pune Supergiants.

Smith has replaced MS Dhoni as the Pune captain and said he would like the team in his own way.

“There are plenty of guys to talk to, but it is important not to have too many opinions. If opinions are coming from left, right and centre, it can cloud your judgement,” Smith said.

“I’ll try to stay as clear as possible, but it can be difficult sometimes if there are too many opinions.”

He added that the IPL will be beneficial to him as a cricketer.

“The IPL will be beneficial to me. There are a lot of international players and I will get to share the dressing room with them. I will know what people from different parts of the world are thinking,” Smith said.

The India-australia series started turning bitter after India skipper Virat Kohli had accused Steve Smith of looking towards the dressing room before deciding whether to review an umpire’s decision against hin during the second Test in Bangalore. It was after Australia had comprehensibly won the first Test in Pune.

Smith defended his action saying he had a ‘brain fade’ and allegations and counter allegations flew left, right and centre. Finally the BCCI put an end to it by withdrawing a complaint to the ICC.