"If I'm captain…": Ben Stokes shamed by Michael Clarke in brutal attack over India series draw

Former Australia National Cricket Team captain Michael Clarke has given a brutal reality check to the England National Cricket Team captain Ben Stokes after the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 draw.

Michael Clarke said that England were expected to win the five-match Test series against India in their own backyard, and as a captain, Ben Stokes should be disappointed with the result.

Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy ends in a draw

The five-match Test series between India and England saw a high-octane battle between bat and ball across all 25 days of the fixtures.

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Both the Shubman Gill-led India and Ben Stokes-led England delivered remarkable performances in all five games, but in the end, the series ended in a 2-2 draw.

England won the Test series opener at Headingley in Leeds by 5 wickets in a stunning fashion before India made a dominating comeback to register a 336-run win at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

The third at the Lord's in London was an absolute thriller, and the Three Lions clinched a 22-run victory before the fourth Test match at Old Trafford in Manchester ended in a draw.

In the fifth Test at Kennington Oval in London, India pulled off a historic victory by 6 runs from the jaws of defeat against England.

If I'm captain of that team, I'm disappointed with that result - Michael Clarke

Speaking to Beyond23 Cricket Podcast’s YouTube channel, Michael Clarke said that the 2-2 scoreline is not something that England should he proud of because at home, they were expected to easily win the Test series against the young Indian team.

“This England team... I think, 2-2 draw in your own backyard, if I'm captain of that team, I'm disappointed with that result. I want to win, especially in my own conditions. I think they would've come into the series expecting to win,” said Clarke.

I'm not taking India lightly, but I think they've overachieved - Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke further said that the India National Cricket Team “overachieved” in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England because they were under a new leader - Shubman Gill - and without two absolute superstars - Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma - who retired just before the Test series.

“I'm not taking India lightly, but I think they've overachieved, particularly with the lead-up to the series.

"If India lost the series, people would've respected and understood that. New captain, two of their most senior players not playing Test cricket, the best bowler in the world playing only three of the five matches… I think England would've gone into the series expecting to win. India have overperformed. To level the series 2-2, that's definitely a win for India in my opinion,” said Clarke.

England's next big challenge in Test cricket is the upcoming Ashes 2025-26 series against Australia Down Under, while India's next Test series is at home against the West Indies.

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