Former Australian captain Michael Clarke said the Indian national cricket team looked fatigued during the test series loss against New Zealand at home. Michael Clarke acknowledged New Zealand’s performance but added that this defeat will serve as a wake-up call for the Rohit Sharma-led team.
India suffered a humiliating 0-3 whitewash in the Test series against New Zealand. Notably, it was India’s first cover-up (three or more tests). New Zealand became the first team in 12 years to win a Test series on Indian soil. India will next face Australia in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT).
He tells me India is very fatigued – Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke said India’s recent poor performance was due to “mental fatigue”. He noted that India were not at their best in terms of shot selection and bowling decisions. Clarke also recalled that captain Rohit Sharma admitted that he was not at his best.
“Don’t take anything away from New Zealand, but it tells me that India are very fatigued. Some of their shot selections, the use of bowlers and even Rohit coming out and saying he wasn’t at his best, I just think it was mental fatigue. They’ve played a lot of non-stop cricket but it will be a bit of a kick in the butt for them,” Clarke said on Around the Wicket Podcast.
You will see the best of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke is confident about India’s chances in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia. He said the “refreshed” Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will perform at their best. Clarke predicted the duo would return to their best form with experience, talent and self-confidence.
“They know they have played well here in Australia and they will still come here with a lot of talent and self-confidence, but hopefully fresh. That’s the key for Indian players. Virat Kohli, you can’t be that good for such a period of time. long and just turn off the tap, so once he cools off, and Rohit Sharma does the same, you’ll see the best in them,” Clarke added.
The first test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 will begin on November 22
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggled during India’s home Test series against Bangladesh and New Zealand. Rohit scored just 133 runs in 10 innings, while Kohli added 192 runs in the same number of innings. Between them, senior Indian batsmen recorded only two half-centuries in five Tests.
The five-match Test series between India and Australia will begin on November 22 in Perth. Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney will host the remaining four Test matches of the series. It is worth mentioning that the Indian cricket team won the last two test series in Australia by a margin of 2-1.
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