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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Smith, Warner still great players, says Rohit

CricketSmith, Warner still great players, says Rohit

Rohit Sharma, India’s limited-overs vice-captain, said on Thursday (March 29) that the ball-tampering scandal to hit Steven Smith and David Warner should not “define” their careers.

Rohit became the first leading Indian player to comment on the scandal with his words of sympathy for Smith in the hours after the now-deposed Australian captain broke down in tears to apologise for his actions at a press conference.Warner Smith

“The video of Steve Smith being escorted at the airport and his most recent press conference resonated with me,” Rohit said on Twitter.

“The spirit of the game is of utmost importance there’s no denying that. They made a mistake and they accepted it. It would be unfair of me to sit here and question the boards (sic) decision but they are great players and I don’t think this should define them.”

Cricket Australia have banned Smith and Warner for a year, while Cameron Bancroft was banned for nine months. Additionally, neither Smith nor Bancroft will be considered for a leadership position in the team for one year after their bans end, while Warner, who was vice-captain, will never be considered for a leadership position.

Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra, the former Test player-turned-pundit, felt the punishments meted out to the Australians were “very harsh”.

Smith and Warner have not just been punished for the offence committed, otherwise “the quantum would have been a lot lesser,” the former India batsman said in New Delhi.

“This is a result of a huge amount of public outrage in Australia. Personally I feel it’s very harsh.”

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