IPL 2025 Auction: Steve Smith In Focus For Captaincy Across Teams

Steve Smith has been absent from the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2021. Despite his status as a top international batter, he has struggled to secure a consistent spot in recent IPL seasons.

The 35-year-old went unsold in the 2022 auction and opted out of the mini-auction for IPL 2023. From 2012 to 2021, he scored 2485 runs in India's premier T20 competition, averaging 34.5 with a strike rate of 128.1, including one century and eleven fifties.

In IPL 2024, Rishabh Pant returned after over 15 months following a severe accident. His performance as skipper was inconsistent, leading to Delhi Capitals winning seven games and losing seven, failing to qualify for the playoffs.

Reports suggest Pant might leave the franchise, though no official confirmation exists. Delhi Capitals could target Steve Smith at the auction. Smith played for DC in IPL 2021 and might bring necessary changes to make them title contenders.

KL Rahul had a disappointing campaign as skipper in IPL 2024. His lack of intent and poor leadership meant Lucknow Super Giants failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since joining in 2022.

Rahul's questionable decisions and frequent batting order changes disrupted team stability. LSG should consider Steve Smith, who understands game nuances well. If successful, he would join compatriot Marcus Stoinis.

Smith recently led Washington Freedom (WAF) to victory in the MLC 2024 tournament, beating San Francisco Unicorns by seven wickets under his captaincy. This success might attract IPL teams looking for a new captain in the upcoming auction.

Punjab Kings

The Mohali-based Punjab Kings have yet to win an IPL title since its inception. They reached the final in 2014 but lost to Kolkata Knight Riders. PBKS are likely to pursue Steve Smith.

An experienced campaigner like Smith could excel in both captaincy and batting roles for PBKS. When Shikhar Dhawan got injured during IPL 2024, Sam Curran took over and performed well as an all-rounder.

Smith went unsold in the IPL 2024 auction but might attract bids this time due to his impressive performance as captain and batsman in MLC 2024. He finished second leading run-scorer with 336 runs in nine games at an average of 56, including three fifties.

It's been three years since Smith last played in the IPL. His recent success could make him a valuable addition for teams seeking strong leadership and batting prowess.