Courtesy: ICC
Australia veteran batter Steven Smith announced his retirement from ODI cricket after the Aussie side got knocked out of the Champions Trophy 2025 following their four-wicket defeat against India in the semi-final played at the Dubai International Stadium. In the knockout game against the Men in Blue, Australia witnessed themselves in trouble after losing openers Cooper Connolly and Travis Head within the first powerplay. In the crunch situation, Smith again utilised his experience and hit his 41st fifty. His 73-run innings off 96 deliveries helped the Aussies to post a fine total of 264 runs on the board. However, World Cup 2023 champions couldn’t halt India’s juggernaut and concluded their journey in the Champions Trophy 2025.
Kohli stood tall in the run chase and played a magnificent innings of 84 off 98 to help India pull off the chase comfortably. Smith’s ODI retirement has made avid cricket supporters emotional. Several fans have trended a video in which India legend Virat Kohli is having a conversation with the 35-year-old. As per fans claims, Kohli is appearing to be asking Smith, "Last match?" to which the Aussie replied “Yeah.” Smith called time on his ODI career but his fans will get to witness him in Australia whites. He has also kept himself available for his national team’s T20I squad.
Smith will next be seen in WTC 2025 final against South Africa in June 2025
Steven Smith will next feature for Australia against South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final to be played at the iconic Lord’s from June 11 to June 15. The star Aussie batter won’t be part of IPL for the fourth consecutive year as no franchise raised a paddle for him in the IPL 2025 auction held in Jeddah in November 2024.
In the past, Smith served Rajasthan Royals in the cash-rich league but witnessing slump in his form, the Royals parted ways with him after the 2020 season. His last IPL appearance came in IPL 2021 where he played for Delhi Capitals (DC) but couldn’t be effective with his bat.
