Former Australian captain Steve Smith has shut the door on any chatter regarding a full-time return to the role.
The masterful right-hander's swat of any suggestion of a return comes in the wake of Australia's third Test win over India in Indore, a fixture in which Smith pulled the tactical levers with aplomb.
Smith stepped up to lead the tourists in the decisive Test after captain Pat Cummins returned home to be with family following news that his mother, Maria, had fallen seriously ill.
The Indore fixture marked the third occasion in which Smith had fulfilled the duties since Cummins commenced his captaincy tenure ahead of the 2021 Ashes.
While stating pre-game that captaincy suited his idiosyncratic style and brought the best out in him as a batsman, Smith was quick to pour cold water on any suggestions he would be vying for Cummins' job.
"My time is done. It's Pat's team now," Smith said.
"I've obviously been able to stand in this week, obviously in tough circumstances with Patty going home. Our thoughts are still with him back home.
"But India is a part of the world I love captaining ... it's probably my favourite place in the world to captain.
"Every ball is an event and therefore can dictate what happens after, which is something that I really love and you've got to be ahead of the game.
"So I thought I did it well this week and it was good fun."
With his gritty 26 in trying conditions during the first innings and a blinding catch to steer the Aussies to a memorable win, Smith's individual output was marked.
"Catches in this part of the world can win or lose you games," Smith offered on the screamer taken at first slip to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara.
"I think back to Bangalore in 2017 I dropped Pujara and then he went on to make a big score.
"Fortunately this one stuck and we were able to get over the line."
However, it was the 33-year-old's clear, concise and crucial work with Australia's handful of reviews that proved the difference on a pitch in which both batsmen and umpires were often bamboozled.
Smith captained his country between 2014 and 2018 before being dumped following his role in the 'Sandpapergate' saga during Australia's most recent tour of South Africa.
The fourth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Series is scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad, commencing on Wednesday, March 9.
It is not yet known whether Cummins will rejoin the touring party and resume his duties as the team's head.
