Michael Clarke is not sure if the upcoming Test series against Australia will be Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s last tour Down Under, but if it is, their absence in the future will be due to retirement and not form. Virat Kohli is 36, and Rohit Sharma 37, and it is likely that the two Indian stalwarts won’t return to Australia for the next Test series in another four years’ time.
Michael Clarke, the former Australia captain, wants to see the best out of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma when the five-match series gets underway in Perth on November 22. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s collective form is a major headache for India ahead of what promises to be a grueling Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s current form and their past performances vs Australia
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma tallied 93 and 91 runs, respectively, in the three Tests against New Zealand, which India lost 0-3 – their first whitewash on home soil after decades. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma faced plenty of flak for letting the Indian batting down, which crumbled against spin – losing nearly 40 wickets against Mitchell Santner, Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips. Losing at home just before a series as high-profile against Australia is never good news.
Rohit Sharma managed to score just 91 runs in three matches in IND vs NZ series, scoring just one-half century in his last six innings. Virat Kohli, on the other hand, scored 93 runs in three Tests. The duo did not have a good series against Bangladesh either, forcing some critics to recommend that they return to the domestic circuit in order to prepare well for Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Virat Kohli, in particular, has no reason to worry as he enters a territory and faces a team against which he’s tasted plenty of success. In 13 Tests in Australia, Virat Kohli has amassed 1352 runs at an impressive average of 54.08. This includes the unforgettable 20-14/15 tour when Virat Kohli pummelled 697 runs with four centuries – twin hundreds in Adelaide.
Four years later, Virat Kohli led India to their maiden Test series win in Australia. In 2020-21, Virat Kohli had to leave the tour after the Adelaide Test due to the birth of his first child, all the more reason for him to be fiercely motivated and perform well.
In contrast, Rohit Sharma has an underwhelming record against the Aussies – just 708 runs from 12 Tests – but there is no better time to turn things around. Heading into BGT, India have two additional things to take care of – the fact that they are on the cusp of becoming the only team to register a hat-trick of series wins in Australia and that a place in the final of the World Test Championship is still up for grabs.
Despite all odds stacked against them and India, Michael Clarke feels by the time the series ends, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will have rekindled their glory days with the bat. Without Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma firing, neither appears possible, and that’s exactly why Michael Clarke has urged the two star batters to have a big, run-filled series under their belt.
Michael Clarke shares his views on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s Test future after 2024-25 BGT
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke feels the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s last tour down under only if they retire before the next trip and because of poor form. The legendary duo have been in woeful form in Tests recently, sparking discussions about their future in the longest format.
In India’s shocking 0-3 home series defeat to New Zealand, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma averaged under 16 and combined to score only two half-centuries in 12 innings.
Speaking on the Around the Wicket podcast, Clarke said as quoted by Hindustan Times:
“If it’s their last time here in Australia, I think it will be retirement. They won’t be dropped, but it the same breath, I think every cricketer knows that if you’re not making runs or taking wickets, there will be conversations around that kind of a thing.”
He added:
“Being the captain of the team, you get a slack for that, and if you’re the world’s best batter for the last 10 years – maybe longer – across formats, I think Virat may get a bit more slack than somebody else.”
Clarke was hopeful of the two stalwarts returning to form in the Australia series to maintain the excitement factor of the format.
“I hope for this series’ sake, Test cricket’s sakes, they both come out, get back to their best form and score plenty of runs for India, but also Test cricket. We want to see the Australian attack which is a good one, take on the top-order batting of India which is pretty strong in itself,” he stated.
Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s struggles played a massive role in India’s dismal batting displays against the Blackcaps, with the side failing to cross even 300 in five out of the six innings.
Michael Clarke expects a good comeback from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the upcoming BGT series
Michael Clarke believes the conditions in Australia will suit Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and backed the duo to return to form in the five-Test series down under.
Kohli has historically thrived in the red-ball format in Australia, scoring over 1,300 runs at an average of 54.08 in 13 outings. However, Rohit has found the going tough down under, averaging a sub-par 31.38 in seven Tests.
“My brain doesn’t say they’re going to come here and fail. They will be tough ton get out and I think the Australian bowlers will need to find a way to dismiss them both early in the innings as often as they possibly can. I think they are probably coming into Australian conditions where they both like playing. Rohit Sharma plays fast bowling as good as anyone in that team,” said Clarke.
He concluded:
“Certainly, short-pitch bowling – he’ll take the Aussie on with that hook shot and he plays it up over third man. And Virat is class. His record his phenomenal. He has scored six hundreds in 13 Tests, averages over 50 in Australian conditions.”
The 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy is less than 10 days away with the first Test to be played in Perth, starting November 22.