West Indies all-rounder Odean Smith had a dream debut in IPL as he delivered a match-winning performance for Punjab Kings (PBKS) against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Sunday night (March 27).
The Indian Premier League, over the years, has witnessed many Caribbean players enthralling the fans with both bat and ball. The latest addition is Odean Smith.
Also read: IPL 2022 schedule, squads
Bought at the IPL players auction for โน6 crore, the 25-year-old Jamaican has made instant impact with his power hitting. His 8-ball 25 not out (strike rate 312.50) at No. 7 helped Punjab chase down 206 with an over to spare against Bangalore at Mumbaiโs DY Patil Stadium.
It was a dream debut as he picked up the Player of the Match trophy.
Explosive hitting ๐ฅ
Finishing touch ๐
Atmosphere in the #PBKS camp ๐คGame-changers @shahrukh_35 & @OdeanSmith58 sum up @PunjabKingsIPL‘s thrilling chase. ๐ ๐ – By @ameyatilak
Full interview ๐น ๐ฝ #TATAIPL #PBKSvRCB https://t.co/3E82qvis4K pic.twitter.com/mAKb14Ooq7
โ IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 28, 2022
Also read: Ponting backs Pant to be future India captain
Though he went for plenty โ 52 runs in four wicket-less overs against RCB, he bowled the fastest delivery in the match โ clocked at 148.8 kmph.
Idolising Andre Russell
Smith is known for hitting 100-metre sixes and bowling at a speed in excess of 140 kmph. He considers his West Indian teammate Andre Russel as his idol.
โHeโs (Russell) always been my idol in cricket. We can do similar things: he hits the ball a long way and bowls fast, and I can do that. Heโs a busy guy โ heโs doesnโt really answer messages โ but whenever heโs around, heโs somebody that I talk to, somebody I look up to and somebody that in the future Iโd hope to be like,โ Smith told ESPNcricinfo in January.
Smith, who was a net bowler for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2021 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), had said he liked Mumbai Indians while growing up and later supported KKR as his idol Russell plays there.
“Iโve watched a lot of IPL games. Mumbai (Indians) was one of the teams that I really liked growing up โ I like someone that hits the ball, and Iโve seen Pollard, who hits the ball real far. Then when Andre Russell came through, I went over to (support) KKR. Itโs a league Iโve always wanted to play (in), but you have to be really up there to get into it,โ he said.
๐๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฑ ๐ข๐ญ! ๐ช๐ป#SaddaPunjab #IPL2022 #PunjabKings #PBKSvRCB @shahrukh_35 @OdeanSmith58 pic.twitter.com/XEpIsFrIyc
โ Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) March 28, 2022
Smith wants to be one of top all-rounders in the world
He told the website that he wants to be one of the top all-rounders in the world and also play Test cricket. โMy ambition is to be one of the top allrounders in the world. Hopefully, I could play some Test cricket also โ I donโt see why I shouldnโt be able to โ but my aspiration is to be one of the best all-rounders going around, in all aspects of the game: T20, 50 overs and Test cricket.โ
Former West Indies fast bowler turned commentator Ian Bishop feels Smith needs to โrefineโ his skill set. โHe needs to refine his skillset – a couple of yorkers here and there, refine that slower ball. And refine his batting, because his batting is still raw โ but it is powerful as heck. If someone gets a hold of him and refines his game, heโs a very exciting prospect,โ he told the website.
Odean Smith,,,,,.
โ Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) March 27, 2022
U-19 World Cup winner
Smith was part of the West Indies squad that won the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2016 in Bangladesh. He got to play only two matches, scoring just 18 runs. The tournament also featured Indiaโs Rishabh Pant, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Mahipal Lomror, Sarfaraz Khan, who are all part of the ongoing IPL.
Both Smith and Russell were part of the Abu Dhabi T10 trophy-winning Deccan Gladiators team in December 2021. In that 10-over tournament, Smith aggregated 139 runs off 49 balls (strike rate 283.67) with 11 fours and 13 sixes in seven innings. He also took 11 wickets.
In the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2021, Smith was the joint highest wicket-taker with 18 scalps from 11 games for Guyana Amazon Warriors.
Last month, on February 9, in his first ODI in India, he took the wickets of Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli and scored a 20-ball 24 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. However, West Indies lost the day-night contest by 44 runs.
Hereโs our Team of the Tournament! ๐คฉ๐
Would you make any changes? ๐ค#AbuDhabiT10 #InAbuDhabi #CricketsFastestFormat pic.twitter.com/nH8wFkoYwJ
โ T10 League (@T10League) December 7, 2021
Wickets of Kohli, Pant
At the same venue, two days later, Smith dismissed Shikhar Dhawan and hit an 18-ball 36 with three fours and three sixes. That was not enough as his team lost again, this time the margin was 96 runs, and was whitewashed 3-0 by the Rohit Sharma-led side.
Smith had made his ODI debut in January this year against Ireland. His T20I debut was way back in 2018, against Pakistan. But so far, he has featured in only 10 T20Is besides winning five ODI caps.
Smith’s six dents teammate’s car
In his first-ever ODI, Smith hit an 84-metre six at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica which dented teammate Sheldon Cottrellโs Range Rover. After the match, when broadcaster Bishop asked whether he would apologise to Cottrell, he said with a cheeky smile, โNo, that was just unfortunate. Heโll fix it and as I said it was unfortunate and probably parked in the wrong area.โ
Odean Smith is taking ZERO responsibility for the dent in @SaluteCotterell‘s Range Rover.๐ #WIvIRE #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/WOdo7cyBb1
โ Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) January 10, 2022
According to West Indies coach Phil Simmons, Smith can change a game with his batting. โWeโve seen what his strengths are: he has a lot of pace when he bowls and he’s getting his yorkers in a lot more, and itโs something weโre working hard on with him. And he can change a game with the bat for any team he’s playing for.โ
As Smithโs name continues to trend on social media on Monday, he will be hoping to continue his power-hitting in the rest of the IPL 2022. For now, he can enjoy his moment in the sun.