Border-Gavaskar 2017: an epic series in 90secs

While Steve Smith's mastery with the bat of late has been "Bradman-like", his Australia coach Darren Lehmann believes his leadership skills might also see him emerge as one of the nation's great modern Test captains.

As the Australians dusted themselves off after a 2-1 series loss to India was completed in Dharamsala and prepared to head to their next engagement – some to the IPL, most for a period of annual leave – Lehmann heaped praise on his 27-year-old skipper.

Not just for his on-field productivity, where Smith was the stand-out batter in conditions where Australians have historically struggled, finishing with 499 runs at an average of 71.28 from four Tests, including three centuries.

Making him only the second visiting Test captain (after England's Alistair Cook in 2012) to post three hundreds in a series played on Indian soil.

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Smith's dominance was starkly reflected in the tour aggregates that show he scored more than twice as heavily as the next-best Australia batter, 21-year-old opener Matthew Renshaw who finished with 237 runs at 29 on his first visit to the sub continent.

Which, in itself, drew kudos from Smith in the lead-up to the decisive fourth Test which India won by eight wickets with a day to spare.

But it was the captain's effort that was the focus of Lehmann's end-of-match assessment, as the one-time leg-spinning all-rounder has clearly established himself as the game's pre-eminent Test batter.

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With an official ICC ranking that reveals him to be among the very best to have played the game across more than 140 years.

"He's been brilliant," Lehmann said in Dharamsala today.

"He's been unbelievable. He's been Bradman-like with the bat but all the stuff behind the scenes has been exceptional.

"Really pleased for him and what he's brought to the team as a leader.

Quick Single: Smith sees loss as stepping stone to better

"The way they've gone about it has been impressive.

"They (the Australia team) have been young, they've been up against it, the pitches have be as we would expect.

"There's a lot of learnings in this group over this tour.

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"They're all hurting and disappointed for the result but really pleased with the effort and the attitude and trying to change the way we play here.

"He's led from the front the captain.

"Three hundreds in four Test matches is pretty special."

Smith scores sublime subcontinent century

But just as significant, according to Lehmann who played under former Test greats Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting and alongside Smith's predecessor Michael Clarke, is Smith's evolution as a leader.

Having seen Australia through the bumpy start to the previous home summer that began with a rare home series loss to South Africa, Smith then took the equally uncommon task of rebuilding a team radically revamped.

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The young side that Smith took into the third Test against South Africa in Adelaide and then against Pakistan forming the basis of the assault on India.

A tour that was supposed to end in despair but instead bore the promise of a galvanised unit that approaches next summer's Ashes contest against England with high hopes.

Smith showed, throughout the six-week India tour, that he's not simply a batting colossus with a sharp tactical mind.

He was heavily involved in the minutiae of every training session, as demonstrated at Bengaluru and again at Dharamsala when he stayed on at practice to hit high balls as catching drills for auxiliary members of the squad, Ashton Agar and Jackson Bird.

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And it's that level of involvement in his team and selflessness to their collective cause that Lehman believes earmarks Smith for an impressive captaincy tenure, which could stretch well into the next decade, form and fitness willing.

"Yeah, I think so," Lehmann said today when asked if Smith could prove himself to be at least the equal of revered captains Taylor, Waugh and Ponting.

"He's a cricket nuffie, loves the game.

"He's passionate about the game, loves the game, loves his players. Helps support staff out.

Lehmann hails effort, attitude and resilience

"He right behind the scenes, he's into it every day, making sure everyone is okay.

"I've been so proud of him as a leader.

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"He's a different leader to Michael (Clarke) to Ricky (Ponting) to Mark Taylor to Steve Waugh.

"And he's working out his own identity as a captain.

"But I've been proud of him; everyone has been proud of him.

"So, pleased with where he is going and he'll just get better and better."

2017 Border-Gavaskar Test series

Feb 23-27, First Test, Pune – Australia won by 333 runs.

Mar 4-8, Second Test, Bengaluru – India won by 75 runs.

Mar 16-20, Third Test, Ranchi – match drawn.

Mar 25-29, Fourth Test, Dharamsala – India won by eight wickets.

India win series 2-1