Follow UsAustralia’s captain during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Steve Smith, bid goodbye to the ODIs on March 5 (Wednesday) after the team’s exit from the tournament, following a loss to India in the semi-final by four wickets on March 4 (Tuesday).
“It feels like the right time to make way. It has been a great ride and I have loved every minute of it," Smith was quoted as saying in a press release. The two-time World Cup winner (2015 and 2023), Smith will continue to be available for selection in Tests and T20Is.
With Australia’s title defense on the line during the 2027 edition of the ODI World Cup, Smith feels that it would only be right to leave now and let the core team be built for the event in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
In his ODI career, Smith appeared in 170 games, scoring 5800 runs at an average of 43.28. Always considered the leader-in-waiting during Michael Clarke’s reign as Australia captain, Smith was made the leader, and he did well to win series against New Zealand, England and a tri-series involving West Indies and South Africa.
He led the team in 64 matches and finished his captaincy stint with a win percentage of 50. Smith was one of the best batters in ICC events, scoring a century in the ODI World Cup 2015 semi-final against India in Sydney to go with his 10 half-centuries, including the 73 against India again in Dubai in his last match, the CT 2025 semi-final.
