Clarke Suggests Against Sledging: ‘That’s Exactly What Virat Wants’

Virat has been one of the iconic names for India for more than a decade. He has been able to help the team in difficult situations and score runs in challenging encounters. However, his form has been on the rough side for quite some time.

Regarding this, former Australian captain Michael Clarke has pointed out that he will be a key partaker for the upcoming Border Gavaskar trophy. He said that Virat Kohli should not be taken lightly, as he can score runs and make the situation suitable for the Indian cricket team.

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In the last tournament, against New Zealand, India had to face the whitewash on their home turf. With the loss, the team has suffered a setback in the quest for the WTC final qualification.

However, Clarke said that they should not be taken in a light mood. He further added that Virat Kohli should not be sledged because he is a player who can take things seriously.

In addition, Kohli is a player who engages with on-field sledging and performs well against teams like Australia. So, Clarke also added that Kohli will look for such an opportunity and will become dangerous if given one. So, it is important for the Australian team to avoid such situations with him.

Clarke was also asked about the absence of Rohit Sharma. In response, he said that Rohit had done the suitable thing by taking a leave. He also added that being a parent is one of the most memorable junctures for an individual. Rohit has done a great thing by taking some days off to be with his family. He also added that for him the greatest point was being a dad.

In addition, he added that Rohit Sharma’s captaincy will be missed in the first match. However, he will be back by the second test. He further said that Rohit will be a crucial player and skipper for the team. Also, India needs to focus on their plus points in order to win the series. Furthermore, Kohli will have to score the maximum runs and give the maximum opportunities to the team in order to do well in the series.

Apart from all of the above, Shami has been preparing for a comeback. He has been working hard in the domestic circuit for the return. Also, there are speculations that he will be back in the second half of the series. So, it will be crucial to see how he perform for the team.

In addition, India needs to perform well in the upcoming series. They will have to win at least four tests in order to qualify for the WTC finals. So, they will have to be at their best on the tour. Also, it will be the first time since the 90s that the two squads will be playing 5 matches. In the series, the likes of Prasidh will be the names to look out for. They have been given the chance in the team at a crucial juncture.