IPL 2021: Steve Smith will pull out of IPL due to a low bid: Michael Clarke.
IPL 2021: Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke said that Steve Smith will eventually pull out of IPL due to low bid. Smith is brought by the runner up of the IPL 2020 for INR 2.25 Crores. Clarke, while at the Big Sports Breakfast podcast said that Smith will not be away for 11 weeks from his family for INR 2.2 Crores.
The former skipper said that he was a bit surprised that one of the best batsmen of the world right now got such a low bid in the IPL 2021 Auction. Royal Challengers Bangalore opened the bid for Steve Smith while Delhi Capitals entered the show and took him for INR 2.25 Crores.
“For someone like Smith, who’s on a good contract with Cricket Australia, for him to go away on an eight-week tour or he’s probably gonna be there for nine weeks and then you gotta do two weeks of quarantine when you get back, so call it 11 weeks. I don’t think he’s gonna give up 11 weeks away from his family and his partner for 380,000 AUD (Rs 2.2 crore),” Clarke said.
Clarke said that he won’t be surprised if Smith picks up a small hamstring injury right before boarding the plane to India.
“I do feel that his T20 stats are not good in the recent past – especially last years IPL did go well for him. I’m surprised that he has gone for just INR 2.2 Crores- which is still a handsome amount. If he plays IPL for eight weeks then it is good money but when you compare it with last year from Rajasthan Royals and his role there, don’t be surprised if he clicks a minute hamstring strain before boarding the flight to India.”
The 2015 ICC World Cup-winning captain was also stunned to see Aaron Finch returning unsold in the Auctions.
Clarke defends Australian limited over captain and said, “he is good in the short format and when there are a lot of teams in IPL, I believe he deserves a place there.”
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