Is Steve Smith the Ultimate Clutch Performer of His Generation?

This cricketing generation is blessed with two greatest superstars of the game, where one has ruled in the white ball format while the second has dominated in red ball cricket. Both have shown their class on the biggest stages of ICC tournaments. Talking about Virat Kohli in the white ball format and Steve Smith in the red ball, both players have been the backbone of their respective teams in crunch moments. Kohli, in 24 knockout games, has crossed the 50-run mark 10 times. Steve Smith, on the other hand, has achieved this in just 13 appearances — crossing 50+ on 7 occasions and this consistency has led many to debate whether Smith is the true master of pressure situations.

In the 2015 World Cup, Smith was brilliant. He scored 65 in the quarter-final against Pakistan, followed by a stunning 105 in the semi-final against India. In the final against New Zealand, he stayed unbeaten on 56*, helping Australia clinch the trophy. Fast forward to 2019, Smith once again stepped up in the semi-final against England, scoring 85 in a tough match that Australia eventually lost.

– 65 in 2015 WC Quarter Final
– 105 in 2015 WC Semi Final
– 56* in 2015 WC Final
– 85 in 2019 WC Semi Final
– 163 in 2023 WTC final
– 73 in 2025 CT Semi Final
– 66 in 2025 WTC final.

ONE & ONLY STEVE SMITH 👌 pic.twitter.com/jvLwSuqmrN

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 11, 2025

But his effort under pressure remained admirable. In the World Test Championship (WTC) Final of 2023, Smith was outstanding. Facing India, he scored a match-defining 121 in testing conditions — a knock that set the tone for Australia’s victory. Even in the 2025 Champions Trophy semi-final against India, he fought hard with 73 runs, though the team couldn’t get over the line. Most recently, in the 2025 WTC Final against South Africa, Smith contributed 66 runs as Australia reached 212.

Quarter-Finals vs Pakistan in 2015 ODI World Cup

Back in the 2015 Cricket World Cup quarter-final in Adelaide on March 20, Steve Smith showed why he’s a cut above, steering Australia to an easy chase of Pakistan’s 213. Pakistan scratched their way to 213 in 49.5 overs, with Josh Hazlewood’s 4/35 doing the damage. Australia’s reply got off to a rocky start—Aaron Finch was trapped lbw for 2 by Sohail Khan, and David Warner nicked off for 24 to Wahab Riaz, leaving them wobbling at 49/2 after nine overs.

In walked Smith at 15/1 in the third over, with Pakistan’s bowlers, especially Riaz (2/54), coming in hot. Cool as ever, Smith played a gem, scoring 65 off 69 balls with seven cracking fours, at a strike rate of 94.20. He teamed up with Shane Watson (64 not out) to put on 89 for the fourth wicket, guiding Australia past 100. His fifty off 51 balls was pure class, mixing grit with flair. Though he fell lbw to Ehsan Adil at 148, Smith’s knock set things up perfectly and Australia romped to 216/4 in 33.5 overs, winning by six wickets with 97 balls to spare.

Semi-Finals vs India in 2015 ODI World Cup

Fresh off a fifty in the quarter-finals, Steve Smith lit up the 2015 Cricket World Cup semi-final against India in Sydney on March 26 with a stunning 105 off 93 balls. Australia won the toss and batted, but things started shakily when David Warner got out for 12, leaving them at 15/1 in the third over. Smith walked in with India’s quicks, led by Umesh Yadav (4/72), making the new ball talk and unfazed, he took charge, teaming up with Aaron Finch (81) for a massive 182-run partnership.

Smith’s innings was a beauty, packed with 11 fours and two sixes, racing along at a strike rate of 112.90. He notched a fifty in 53 balls and a hundred in 89, picking apart India’s attack, including Ravichandran Ashwin (1/42). Caught by Rohit Sharma off Yadav in the 35th over, he’d already powered Australia to a hefty 328/7. India’s chase, despite MS Dhoni’s 65, fizzled out at 233 in 46.5 overs, with James Faulkner (3/59) cleaning up. and Smith’s ton, built under early pressure, was the heart of Australia’s commanding 95-run win.

Finals vs New Zealand in 2015 ODI World Cup

In the finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 at Melbourne on March 29, Steve Smith’s unbeaten 56 off 71 balls guided Australia to a seven-wicket victory over New Zealand, chasing 184 with 101 balls to spare. New Zealand, batting first, crumbled to 183 in 45 overs, with James Faulkner’s 3/36 and Mitchell Starc’s 2/20 doing the damage. Australia’s chase began poorly when Aaron Finch was dismissed for a duck by Trent Boult, leaving them at 2/1 in the second over.

Smith walked in with the pressure of a World Cup final and a lively New Zealand attack, led by Matt Henry (2/46), testing the batsmen. Partnering with David Warner (45), Smith steadied the innings, adding 61 runs for the second wicket. His composed knock, featuring three fours at a strike rate of 78.87, anchored the chase. After Warner fell, Smith forged a 112-run stand with Michael Clarke (74), reaching his fifty off 66 balls. Remaining not out, Smith ensured Australia cruised to 186/3 in 33.1 overs, clinching the title.

Semi-Finals vs England in 2019 ODI World Cup

Against arch-rivals England in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 semi-final at Birmingham on July 11, Steve Smith’s gritty 85 off 119 balls was the cornerstone of Australia’s 223 all out in 49 overs. Australia, choosing to bat first, were in deep trouble early, slumping to 14/3 in the sixth over after Chris Woakes (3/20) and Jofra Archer (2/32) dismissed Aaron Finch (0), David Warner (9), and Peter Handscomb (4). Smith walked in at 10/2 in the third over, facing a rampant England attack on a lively Edgbaston pitch.

With six fours and a strike rate of 71.42, Smith anchored the innings over 201 minutes, forging a vital 103-run stand with Alex Carey (46). His 72-ball fifty steadied Australia, guiding them past 100 despite Adil Rashid’s (3/54) spin threat. Smith’s resilience kept Australia afloat, but his run-out by Jos Buttler in the 48th over sparked a collapse, with the last three wickets falling for six runs. England chased 224 with ease, reaching 226/2 in 32.1 overs, led by Jason Roy’s 85.

Finals vs India in 2023 WTC

The stage where the 2023 ICC World Test Championship Final unfolded at The Oval on June 7 saw Steve Smith’s masterful 121 off 268 balls anchor Australia’s first innings total of 469 against India. India, choosing to bowl first, struck early, dismissing Usman Khawaja (0) and David Warner (43), leaving Australia at 71/2 after 21.4 overs. Smith walked in, facing a charged-up Indian attack led by Mohammed Siraj (4/108) and Shardul Thakur (2/83) on a lively pitch.

Smith’s 285-run partnership with Travis Head (163) for the fourth wicket turned the tide, guiding Australia past 300. His century, a blend of caution and class, steadied the ship after Marnus Labuschagne’s (26) fall at 76/3. Dismissed by Thakur, caught by Srikar Bharat, Smith’s knock laid the foundation for Australia’s dominance. India scored 296 and 234, falling to a 209-run defeat.

Semi-Finals vs India in 2025 ICC Champions Trophy

In the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final in Dubai on March 4, 2025, Steve Smith stepped up big time with a gritty 73 off 96 balls, giving Australia a fighting chance as they posted 264 against India. Australia chose to bat first but got off to a rough start when Mohammed Shami sent Cooper Connolly (0) packing in the third over, leaving them at a shaky 4/1 and Smith walked out with India’s bowlers, led by Shami (3/48) and Ravindra Jadeja (2/40), firing on all cylinders on a pitch that was helping them out.

For 133 minutes, Smith was rock-solid, stroking four crisp fours and one six at a strike rate of 76.04. His 50 off 68 balls, alongside a 56-run partnership with Marnus Labuschagne (29), got Australia to 100 by the 20th over. He kept things steady, adding 54 runs with Alex Carey (61) to push past 150. But when Shami bowled him with a sneaky full toss in the 37th over, Australia’s innings unraveled, finishing at 264. Despite Smith’s heroics, India chased it down at 267/6 in 48.1 overs, thanks to Virat Kohli’s 84.

Finals vs South Africa in 2025 WTC

In the latest ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s on June 11, 2025, Steve Smith’s gutsy 66 off 112 balls was a total game-changer for Australia, who scraped together 212 against South Africa. South Africa chose to bowl first under gloomy skies, and boy, did they make it tough! Kagiso Rabada (5/51) got rid of Usman Khawaja (0) and Cameron Green (4) in a flash, leaving Australia wobbling at 16/2 after just seven overs.

Smith walked out at 12/1, staring down a red-hot Rabada and Marco Jansen (3/49) on a pitch that was jumping and swinging like nobody’s business. For 162 minutes, he was like a brick wall, cracking 10 sweet fours with a strike rate of 58.92. He teamed up with Beau Webster (72) to put on a crucial 79 runs for the fifth wicket, pulling Australia out of a hole at 67/4 to cross the 100-mark. His fifty off 76 balls was pure gold, showing his big-match magic.