Oz all-rounder Smith snapped up by Bangalore Royal Challengers

Sydney, Feb.13 (ANI): Rising Australian all-rounder Steven Smith has signed on with the Bangalore Royal Challengers for the third edition of the Indian Premier League.

Smith has also inked a contract with Worcestershire for the English Twenty20 Cup, reports Fox Sports.

In Bangalore, Smith will play alongside fellow Aussie Cameron White, as well as England all-rounder Kevin Pietersen, South Africa duo Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn, and India spinner Anil Kumble.

Smith, 20, had Deccan and King's Punjab XI chasing his services before Bangalore sounded him out as a replacement for injured New Zealand star Jesse Ryder.

As Smith and New South Wales struggled early in their Sheffield Shield clash against Victoria at the MCG on Friday, his manager Warren Craig revealed the Sutherland lad's IPL windfall.

"In the end Steven has come in for Jesse Ryder who has a long-term (abdominal) injury," Craig said.

"Bangalore were pretty solid all the way through. There was a spanner thrown into the works when he became a capped player and capped players needed to go into the original auction, but everything is fine."

Smith could be in for a busy few months with the Australians to play two Twenty20 internationals against New Zealand at the end of February.

The IPL will kick off in March followed by the Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean at the end of April, a series Smith is a big chance to feature in. (ANI)