NEW DELHI: Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has shared his thoughts on the Indian cricket team's recent performances against New Zealand. Clarke believes that the team's demanding schedule has contributed to their recent struggles.
“Take nothing away from New Zealand, but it tells me India are so fatigued. Some of their shot selection, the use of bowlers, and even Rohit saying he wasn’t at his best—it’s mental fatigue. They’ve played so much cricket without a break,” Clarke said on the Around the Wicket podcast.
Despite his observations about their fatigue, Clarke remains optimistic about India's prospects in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series in Australia. He believes that key players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, once well-rested, will lead the team to a strong performance.
“They know they’ve played well out here in Australia and they’ll still come here with plenty of talent and that self-belief,” Clarke added.
Meanwhile, former Australian captain Aaron Finch has expressed his disagreement with Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar's views on India's captaincy. The discussion revolves around the possibility of current Indian captain Rohit Sharma missing the first Test, or even the first two Tests, of the series due to personal reasons.
Gavaskar had suggested that in Rohit's absence, the team's vice-captain, Jasprit Bumrah, should captain India for the entire series to maintain continuity. Gavaskar believes it would be more beneficial for Bumrah to lead throughout the series rather than having Rohit take over mid-series upon his return.
Finch, speaking on the Around the Wicket podcast, disagreed with Gavaskar's perspective.
“I disagree with Sunny on that totally. Rohit Sharma is the captain of the Indian cricket team. If you need to stay at home because your wife’s going to have a baby… that’s such a beautiful moment, and you take all the time that you need in that regard," Finch said.
The much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar series, consisting of five Test matches between India and Australia, is scheduled to commence on November 22.
