IPL 2017: Steve Smith is sure to win hearts as he SHUTS DOWN MS Dhoni's critics

After his fiery battle with Virat Kohli during the recently concluded India-Australia Test series, Steve Smith is surely not the most popular cricketer in India. However, the prolific batsman's fan-following is all set to rise after he emphatically shut down critics of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) clash with Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, the Rising Pune Supergiant captain came out in strong support of Dhoni, who is going through a dull period with the bat.

"I am happy where MS (Dhoni) is at the moment. He is playing the ball well in the nets. And as they say form is temporary, class is permanent, MS is a class player. He hit a monster of a six in the last game and we can see he is looking to find his groove. Hopefully we can see him making his mark," the Aussie was quoted saying in a report published by Times of India. "We will see how it goes. I am not worried about MS. I think he is going to do fine."

Dhoni is in the middle of a rather dismal run with the bat in IPL 2017. The former India captain has been struggling to get going and critics, including the likes of Sourav Ganguly, have been severe in their assessment of his future.

Smith's backing of Dhoni will not only give the legendary Indian cricketer some much-needed respite, but it'll also go a long way in finding the Aussie a place in Indian fans' hearts.