Steven Smith no less than De Villiers or Kohli, says Watson

                 Lauding Steven Smith for his match-winning knock against Mumbai Indians, which gave Rajasthan Royals their third successive victory in as many games, Shane Watson said his team-mate is on par with AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli.
"I think he is on par with AB de Villiers at the moment and Virat Kohli when he is at his best. It is incredible to see him just continue to pile on the runs in every format. It looks like it's not going to end and let's hope it doesn't for quite a while," Watson told iplt20.com.
Smith struck his maiden IPL half-century as the young Australian, captaining Rajasthan Royals in the absence of injured Watson, led his team to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Mumbai Indians on Tuesday.
"Steve has got a great feel for the game and great intuition on the field. We talk a lot about different things, including the tactical side of things. He has great skills of the game with the bat and as captain too. There are many things I learn from him as well," Watson added.
Watson has missed all the three games so far for Rajasthan Royals due to a niggle but he is confident of playing his team's fourth match against Chennai Super Kings on April 19.
"I got hit around the hip during the first training session of the tournament and it has taken a bit of time to recover. We are going to travel to Vizag overnight, so it's going to be touch and go for the next game. I will surely be back in the team for our game here against the Chennai Super Kings," Watson said.
Rajasthan Royals have had an amazing talent in rookie Deepak Hooda. Hooda played a match-winning innings against Delhi Daredevils, and Watson reserved praise for the youngster.
"Deepak Hooda is something very special. We saw him last year, just in and around the group and in training, and it has worked out very well to give him an opportunity at the start of this season. He is someone who has very special talent. With the ball he reads the batsman really well and with the bat his power is something incredible. You don't really see it often in India," the Australia said about the young allrounder.
On Rajasthan Royals' unbeaten run in the tournament, Watson said: "I suppose we do have the belief in the ability and talent of the inexperienced players we bring in. Whether it is Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson, Karun Nair or Pravin Tambe, we have backed them and seen the results. The credit for that goes to the coaching staff who really put together these men and give them the chance to flourish.
"They are the ones going around India, trying to unearth new talent. All these players who have done well for us over the years, hats off to the coaching staff for them. I am not here doing the ground work and when I come here every year, the team is just full of these incredibly talented young Indians," he signed off.