Smith ready for Rajasthan opener

Steve Smith has declared himself fit and ready to play in the Rajasthan Royals season opening IPL match in five days' time that would complete his comeback from major elbow surgery.

Smith's return at the first opportunity – against the Kings XI Punjab on March 25 – is a boon for his country in that he will be available for the maximum possible number of games before Australia's World Cup training camp in early May in Brisbane.

The IPL season fixture up until the playoffs was announced today, with Smith expected to feature in 13 of Rajasthan's 14 matches but will – along with other Australians named in the World Cup squad – miss the finals.

David Warner may miss the final two matches of the Sunrisers Hyderabad season with two games scheduled in early May before the finals begin.

The pair lead the Australian contingent in this year's IPL, having journeyed to India via Dubai where they met with the ODI squad in the latest stage of their formal reintegration ahead of their year-long bans for their roles in the ball tampering affair expiring later this month.

Both have been on the comeback trail from differing elbow surgeries and while Warner returned to action with a blazing century in NSW Premier Cricket recently and unveiled a new trimmed-down beard in a Sunrisers practice match, Smith is yet to play a competitive game after spending several weeks with his arm in a brace.

"I'll be hitting as many balls as I can, really, over the next week, getting myself into a good rhythm," Smith said in a chat on the Royals' YouTube channel.

"I started batting a couple of weeks ago back home, feel like I'm hitting the ball really well, so yeah, just trying to get my rhythm right.

"I'll make sure over the next few days I get a lot of work in so that I can probably taper off towards the back-end of the week so I can freshen up and be ready to go on the 25th and hopefully start off the Royals' season with a win."

Smith and Warner will come face-to-face again when their sides meet next Friday, March 29 in Hyderabad – the day their international bans expire. They will be on the field for their T20 clash in central India while the Australians are in the midst of their fourth ODI of the five-match series against Pakistan in the UAE.

Despite being eligible for the final two matches of Australia's Qantas Tour of the UAE, Smith and Warner were not selected for an immediate recall to the national team.

National Selector Trevor Hohns said at the time that it had been agreed between selectors, CA's medical staff and both players that they return via the IPL rather than the Pakistan series.

"While their bans will be finished on March 28, Steve and David have been working through rehabilitation from elbow surgery and it has been agreed the best pathway for them to return to play is in the Indian Premier League, a strong competition which features some of the world’s best players," Hohns said in a statement.

Smith will play alongside two of the players who will most worry Australia in this year's World Cup and Ashes contests in Rajasthan's England signings Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler.

Smith has played in the IPL previously with Stokes but not England's breathtaking wicketkeeper-batsman.

"It makes things easier for me batting with Jos for sure," Smith said. "He's an exciting player, one of the most destructive batters around the world.

"I'm really excited to play with him and hopefully learn something off him as well."

Qantas Tour of the UAE

First ODI: v Pakistan, March 22 in Sharjah

Second ODI: v Pakistan, March 24 in Sharjah

Third ODI: v Pakistan, March 27 in Abu Dhabi

Fourth ODI: v Pakistan, March 29 in Dubai

Fifth ODI: v Pakistan, March 31 in Dubai