Encouraged by his impressive performance in Major League Cricket, Australian veteran hitter Steve Smith hopes to return to the Indian Premier League the following season.
The 35-year-old led the Washington Freedom to their first MLC championship, finishing the T20 competition as the team’s equal top run scorer with 336 runs at a strike rate of 148.67. The player was passed over for the T20 World Cup and the impending trip of Scotland and England.
In the encounter against the San Francisco Unicorns, Smith struck a 52-ball 88 against a bowling attack that included Pakistani quick Haris Rauf and Australian captain Pat Cummins. Smith was declared the player of the match.
“I’d certainly love another opportunity at IPL. I’ll be throwing my name in the hat, and we’ll see how we go,” Smith was quoted as saying by FOX Cricket.
“I feel like in every opportunity I’ve had in T20 cricket recently and franchise stuff, I’ve played quite nicely. So hopefully I just keep putting my name up there and enjoying it.”
Smith did not make an appearance in the IPL since 2021 because he was not purchased in the first two auctions.
The veteran also said that he had been fired and that he would go about his business attempting to improve, as the national selectors seemed to favor younger players.
“In terms of international T20s, I don’t know what’s going on there,” Smith said.
“They’ve obviously got some people they want to bring in, and that’s fine.
“I understood the way that they wanted to stack up for the World Cup, with all the strong guys that smack it miles. I understood that.
“I’m not that fussed. I’ll just go about my business, keep trying to improve and get better.”
Asked about giving a shot at winning gold at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, Smith said: “That’s still a while away as well, so we’ll wait and see. Never say never.
“I did watch quite a bit of the Paris Olympics. I quite enjoyed it.”
