IND vs AUS: Australia batsman Steve Smith wants to take a proactive approach against Ravichandran Ashwin in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy to avoid his struggle against the Indian spinner during the 2020-21 series. Ashwin dismissed Smith three times in that series. The Indian off-spinner dismissed the former Australia captain twice in 2023. Smith could score only 22 runs against Ashwin during this period.

Smith told 'Sydney Morning Herald', "I don't like getting out against off-spin in Australia. However, he is a very good bowler and his plans are excellent. There have been some occasions when he was able to dominate me. At SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground), I was able to dominate him by adopting an active attitude. In such a situation, I need to bat actively against him and not let him get rhythm and bowl the way he wants. Ashwin's Test bowling average in Australia is 42.15 while his home average is 21.57.

Ashwin had also made a plan.

Smith hoped that he would be able to get an early lead against the 38-year-old bowler in the five-match series starting in Perth on November 22. The Tamil Nadu player had recently said that he has made some plans against Smith. Ashwin had told 'Channel Seven that 'Steve Smith is particularly attractive as a player against spin. He has a unique technique, even to play fast bowling. But in terms of spin, I think he came up with a good strategy and good preparation and yes, he used to apply it in any situation. And in the last few years, I have found ways and means to understand it.'

This is how Smith will deal with Ashwin.

Australia's New South Wales player Smith said that 'You have to deal with the mental challenge while facing Ashwin. If someone succeeds in dominating at the beginning of the series, then he can dominate.' Thirty-five-year-old Smith is 315 runs away from 10,000 Test runs. He will return to batting at his favorite number-four position in the series against India. Smith opened the innings in the last four Tests but he was not successful in it.