IPL 2025: Three IPL Teams That Could Spark a Bidding War for Steve Smith in search of a New Captain at Auction

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Steve Smith hasn't been a part of the Indian Premier League since the 2021 edition. Despite being one of the top batters in international cricket, he has faced challenges in securing a consistent spot in the IPL in recent seasons.

The 35-year-old went unsold in the 2022 auction and later chose not to register for the mini-auction for the IPL 2023 season. Having been a part of India's premier T20 competition from 2012 to 2021, he aggregated 2485 runs at an average of 34.5 and a strike rate of 128.1, laced with 1 century and 11 fifties.

It's been three years since he featured in the competition. Recently, he became a big shot in the T20 format after guiding Washington Freedom (WAF) to historic title in the MLC 2024 tournament. Under his captaincy, WAF beat San Francisco Unicorns by 7 wickets to clinch the title. Some IPL teams who might be on the hunt for a new captain might go for Steve Smith in the upcoming auction.

Smith who went unsold in IPL 2024 auction might attract bids this time around, especially after how he went about his work as a captain and batsman in MLC 2024. He finished the tournament as the second leading run-scorer with 336 runs in 9 games at an average of 56, including three fifties. Let's take a look at three IPL teams that will target Steve Smith as a captain for IPL 2025.

1. Delhi Capitals: In the IPL 2024 season, Rishabh Pant returned to cricketing action for the first time in over 15 months following a life-threatening accident. As a skipper, he wasn't up to the mark, leading to an inconsistent performance for the Delhi-based franchise. DC won seven games and lost as many, ultimately failing to qualify for the playoffs.

Recently, reports have suggested that Pant might part ways with the franchise, although there hasn't been any official confirmation. Meanwhile, the Delhi-based franchise could target Steve Smith at the auction. Smith, who played for DC in the IPL 2021 season, might be able to make the necessary tweaks to turn the team into potential title contenders.

2. Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul had a forgettable campaign as a skipper in the IPL 2024 season He neither played with intent nor had the tenacity to lead the team well as the Lucknow-based franchise failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since their entry in the league in 2022.

As a captain, some of his decisions were questionable as there were frequent changes in the batting order which disrupted the team's stability and effectiveness. LSG think-tank should be targeting someone like Steve Smith who understands the nuances of the game. If things go well, then he would join hands with his compatriot Marcus Stoinis.

3. Punjab Kings: The Mohali-based franchise are one of the few teams that are yet to win the title since the inaugural edition. They reached the final in the 2014 edition but succumbed to Kolkata Knight Riders in the showdown. PBKS are one of the teams that will go after Steve Smith.

They need an experienced campaigner who will be able to tick the boxes in captaincy and batting. Steve Smith fits the bill quite perfectly. When Shikhar Dhawan sustained an injury midway through IPL 2024, Sam Curran took charge and led the team, where he contributed significantly with his own performances as an all-rounder.