Michael Clarke Supports Rohit Sharma, Advocates for Continued Leadership in England Series
New Delhi [India], April 2 (ANI): The former Australian skipper Michael Clarke has lent his support to Rohit Sharma , emphasizing that the Indian skipper shouldn't just be included in the Test squad for the upcoming series in England but should also remain at the helm of affairs. Discussing during Behind-the-Scenes with Boria Season 6 Clarke stressed the significance of Rohit in all formats and disregarded any concerns regarding his prospects in Test cricket.
"Definitely straightforward. If Rohit is the captain and actively participating, and assuming he chooses to, he will likely be opening the batting. Keep in mind, he recently became a father during his time in Australia. Initially, things didn’t go exactly as planned when he arrived for the series. However, recognizing what’s best for the team, he noted that the openers performed admirably in Perth. ‘There’s no reason to alter their success,’ he said; instead, putting the team’s needs above all else. This meant he wasn’t necessarily in his preferred spot at bat. Batting conditions in Australia proved challenging with significant seam movement. While swing can complicate matters, severe seam makes it particularly difficult. Moreover, I believe he prioritized the team once more towards the end of the final test match despite being out of form,” he explained to Boria.
"A significant number of players were underperforming. As the captain, one doesn’t wish to include too many struggling teammates in the lineup; instead, they require players who are performing consistently and with confidence. Therefore, he decided to make changes at this point. However, I believe these decisions won't mark the conclusion of Rohit’s career. In my opinion, for India's benefit, he ought to travel to England where he could serve as captain again. If so, I am convinced that he would excel," he concluded.
Even though Rohit has been going through a tough time recently, Clarke believes he still has many more runs ahead of him in all formats of the game.
"I firmly believe he still has many more runs left in him across all three formats. He is indeed one of the finest white-ball players ever. In his earlier years, he was often underappreciated too. His tactical understanding and brilliance on the field are exceptional. I feel India becomes a stronger side with him involved in every format," Clarke asserted.
Although Rohit has stepped away from T20 Internationals, Clarke believes he remains an important asset for ODI and Test matches. He proposed that a position further down the batting order might be more suitable for him in Test cricket.
"I believe Rohit could be an excellent choice as Test cricketer at number five. His proficiency against short balls stands out. Therefore, considering his performance across different countries... whether playing in places like Australia or South Africa with their faster pitches and more bounce, he handles short deliveries adeptly and also engages effectively with the spin bowlers. Hence, I feel he'd make for an impeccable number five; however, I am aware of his preference for opening the innings and acknowledge his achievements in this role," he pointed out.
"Therefore, in Test cricket, does he open? Will he remain at the top of the order? I likely believe he will. Moreover, I predict that he'll perform well for England, leading with authority. Honestly, if Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami are both fit – and despite knowing that India has several talented fast bowlers – I feel confident that India could triumph in the English series," he concluded.
Clarke also spoke about Virat Kohli And mentioned he continuously resolves bugs in his performance.
Appearance may be fleeting, but excellence endures forever. Truthfully, the top players globally maintain their status for good reasons. It’s about enduring over time—navigating both peaks and valleys. When performance dips, they rise again. They put in the effort to regain their edge and continue scoring for their teams, contributing to victories. Rohit Sharma I will handle that. It’s been his approach throughout his whole career. Virat Kohli It remains unchanged. Kohli occasionally experiences dips in form, yet this typically stems from him being an exceptional player. We have exceedingly high standards for him," he stated.
"He believes this player could potentially score a century every single day. However, that’s unrealistic because maintaining such performance consistently would be far too challenging both mentally and physically," he explained. ANI)