Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
Former Australia captain Steve Smith has revealed that he played in this year's Indian Premier League even after being in severe pain during the tournament. The Delhi Capitals batsman said that he was carrying an elbow injury into the IPL 2021 and his injury worsened as the season progressed.
Smith played six matches for Delhi Capitals before the tournament was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Smith had a poor outing for the Delhi franchise as he scored just 104 runs at an average of 26 and a strike rate of 111.82.
“I still wasn’t quite 100 percent [during the IPL], it was still bothering me a bit, and I was playing over there medicated – taking some painkillers and anti-inflammatories every time I batted," Smith told cricket.com.au.
"It got to a point where it wasn’t really improving much, and it probably got a little bit worse while I was over there,” Smith added.
Steve Smith set to miss second leg of IPL 2021
Steve Smith has decided not to take part in the second half of IPL 2021, which is set to begin in September in the UAE. Smith has already pulled out of Australia's tour of the West Indies due to the injury and is even ready to skip the T20 World Cup to be ready for the Ashes later this year.
“There’s still a bit of time between now and [the T20 World Cup], and I’m tracking okay at the moment it’s slow, but I’m going okay.
"I'd love to be part of the World Cup, for sure, but from my point of view, Test cricket, that's my main goal – to be right for the Ashes and try to emulate what I've done in the last few Ashes series I've been involved in."
"If that does mean not partaking in the World Cup, then we'll have to go down that path, but hopefully we don't have to go there."