A final goodbye against his favourite rival:- Steve Smith’s final match in ODI cricket ended with a moment that captured the essence of sportsmanship—a warm embrace with Virat Kohli. As the two cricketers shared a quiet word on the field, it seemed like more than just a routine post-match exchange. It felt like Smith, after years of competing at the highest level, was confiding in one of his fiercest rivals before making his retirement from ODIs public.
The timing made it even more meaningful. Just minutes earlier, India had celebrated a hard-fought victory over Australia to book their place in the Champions Trophy final. Kohli, known for his intensity, had been at the center of the celebrations. But in that moment with Steve Smith’s, all the rivalry faded—what remained was mutual respect between two of cricket’s modern greats.
For Smith, India had been a special opponent throughout his career. No team faced him more in ODIs, and few suffered more at his hands. In 30 matches against India, he scored 1,383 runs at an impressive average of 53.19, including five centuries. Some of his finest performances came against them, with his 2015 World Cup semifinal century at the SCG standing out as a defining knock. That innings all but ended India’s hopes of defending their title and reinforced Smith’s reputation as a big-game player.
His rivalry with Kohli stretched back to 2010 when they first faced off in an ODI in Visakhapatnam. Back then, Smith was still a young all-rounder trying to make his mark, while Kohli was beginning to establish himself as a chase master. Over the years, their paths took different turns—Kohli became one of the greatest ODI batters of all time, while Smith’s legend was built more around Test cricket. But whenever Australia met India, Smith was always a key figure.
While he may not have been known as an ODI specialist, there were moments when he looked unstoppable. His back-to-back centuries in Sydney in 2020, both in just 62 balls, showed his ability to dominate the format when needed. His overall ODI numbers—an average of 43.28 and a strike rate of 86.96—reflect his steady contributions, even if his Test career often overshadowed his limited-overs success.
For Indian fans, Smith was always a player to fear. Even in the 2023 World Cup final, his early dismissal gave India a glimmer of hope before Travis Head took the game away. But this time, in Dubai, India had the final say, ensuring Smith’s ODI career ended on their terms.
And so, after years of competing at the highest level, Smith bid farewell in the arms of Kohli—a moment of genuine camaraderie between two players who defined an era of modern cricket.