Steve Smith equals Joe Root's record of most test centuries against India

Steve Smith surpassed the likes of Garry Sobers, Viv Richards and Ricky Ponting.

The final of the World Test Championship 2023 is underway at The Oval between India and Australia. It was Rohit Sharma who won the toss and decided to bowl first in the swinging conditions. That decision did look good when India dismissed the top three Australian batters for just 76 runs in 24.1 runs. But then came a record fourth-wicket partnership between Travis Head and Steve Smith.

Head scored his fifth test hundred on the first day itself. However, Smith smashed the 31st century of his test career in the very first over of Day 2. He just needed two balls and smashed two back-to-back boundaries to reach another test century in this career. With this century, he went past Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Matthew Hayden to score 31 test hundreds. This was also Smith's 7th test ton in England, and he is only behind Don Bradman with 11 centuries by visiting batters.

Steve Smith smashed his 31st Test ton in WTC Final 2023 against India

Smith and Head added 285 runs for the fourth wicket, which helped Australia reach near 400 runs. Head made 163 off 174, with 25 fours and one six. Smith got out, poking at a ball outside the off, which took the inside edge and crashed on to the stumps. It was Shardul Thakur who dismissed him after he scored 121 runs with 19 boundaries.

During his 121-run knock, the former Australia captain also completed 2000 test runs against India. He became the eighth batter to do so and the third Australian after Ricky Ponting (2555) and Michael Clarke (2049). Smith has scored 2008 runs in 19 tests at an incredible average of 66.93, with nine centuries and five half-centuries. It was Smith's ninth test ton against the Indian side.

He has equaled the record of former English captain Joe Root with the most test hundreds against India. Both batters have scored nine centuries each against Team India. The 34-year-old will have another shot in the second inning to surpass Root and score yet another hundred. Before this inning, Smith was level with Garry Sobers, Viv Richards, and Ricky Ponting with eight test centuries each against India.