India defeated Australia 4-1 in the ODI series and the visitors just didn’t seem like competing. The Australian unit wasn’t anywhere near the side that we are used to watching over the years. The aggression was missing and the very famous sledging of the Aussies was hardly present.
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag believes that Steve Smith and his men were reluctant to sledge Virat Kohli & Co. because of the prestigious IPL contracts for next year. He opined that the visitors were worried that the franchises won’t bid for them if they go against the Indian team.
“They (Australian players) are scared because of the next year’s mega IPL auctions. If they had sledged the Indian players in the ODI series, then the Indian franchise owners might think before bidding high for the Australian players. This can also be a reason for them not to get involved in sledging with their Indian counterparts,” Virender Sehwag told India TV.
Brainfade influenced Smith
He further added that the Kangaroos were too dependent on 3 players and the all the mightiness of the team was nowhere to be seen. He also believes that the skipper Steve Smith played under par due to the ‘brainfade’ incident occurred to him in the Test series earlier this year.
Smith, after being given out LBW to Umesh Yadav in the Bengaluru Test, had looked at the dressing room for advice on whether to go for DRS or not. The umpire and Kohli intervened and he had to walk back post which he had received plenty of criticism. Sehwag reckons Smith was under pressure due to that indident.
“I think the Australian team was playing under pressure because they don’t have all the great players now. Their team was dependent on two or three players – David Warner, Steve Smith and Aaron Finch. Out of these three players, Smith couldn’t do much. Also, I think the fair amount of criticism which Smith received due to some of his actions, including the “brain fade” moment during the Test series created pressure on them,” Sehwag said.
