IPL 2021 will resume in September in the United Arab Emirates. However, it seems like the Delhi Capitals will have to play the second phase of IPL 2021 without their star Australian batsman Steve Smith. The right-handed batsman has been dealing with an injury.
In an interview with cricket.com.au, Steve Smith stated that he aimed to be fully fit for The Ashes 2021/22 series against the England cricket team. He mentioned that he was ready to miss the ICC T20 World Cup event in the United Arab Emirates as well if required to be fully fit for The Ashes 2021/22. Here’s what Smith said:
“I’d love to be part of the World Cup, for sure, but from my point of view, Test cricket, that’s my main goal – to be right for the Ashes and try to emulate what I’ve done in the last few Ashes series I’ve been involved in.”
He added that he had been taking pain killers during the 14th edition of the IPL, when he was playing for the Delhi Capitals. Steve Smith thus mentioned that he had been dealing with his injury for quite some time.
“I still wasn’t quite 100 percent (during the IPL), it was still bothering me a bit, and I was playing over there medicated – taking some painkillers and anti-inflammatories every time I batted,” Steve Smith added.
Steve Smith was a regular member of the Delhi Capitals playing XI in the first phase of IPL 2021
Steve Smith was the captain of the Rajasthan Royals team in the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League. However, the Royals released him after the team finished in the last position on the standings.
Delhi Capitals signed him in 2021 at a price of 2.2 crores INR. The Aussie played six matches for the Delhi-based franchise, scoring 104 runs. With Shreyas Iyer likely to fit for IPL 2021, DC may hand over Smith’s batting position to Iyer if Smith does not play.
