India Not Thinking About Winning or Losing Ahead of World Cup My Only Concern - Michael Clarke

Former Australia Cricket team skipper Michael Clarke seemed concerned over Indian National Cricket Team’s constant chopping and changing strategy ahead of the ICC World Cup in May. Clarke also added the men in blues didn’t look too concerned about winning or losing as they aim to settle their combination for the pinnacle tournament.

My approach would have been different

Meanwhile, Clarke’s comments came in the wake of India’s recent 2-0 snubbing in the T20I series against Australia. Virat Kohli & Co rotated their players in search of the perfect combination. They also rested premier spinner Kuldeep Yadav and also rotated their openers, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. Indian management is likely to continue their approach for the upcoming ODIs. They will try out different players whom they will take to England for the showpiece event. However, Michael Clarke noted that his approach would have been different from that of the Indian team. He admitted that he would like to win all the games leading to the World Cup and take that momentum to the tournament.

“My only concern with India’s approach in the first two T20s against Australia and in the current series is that they are not too concerned about winning or losing those games,” Clarke said at the India Today Conclave 2019.

“Listening to Virat talking after the last T20, these ODIs their approach is going to be the same, they are going to try a few players whom they are going to take in the 15 to the World Cup. That would be a little bit different from my approach. My attitude leading up to the World Cup was trying and winning every game to get the momentum and get confidence into our group,” he added.

Meanwhile, Virat Kohli after the series loss in Bengaluru had said that they wanted to give everyone a game. He also wanted to see how everyone reacted, but it backfired as India lost the series 2-0. However, they will be desperate to turn the tables when the five-match ODI series kicks off in Hyderabad on March 2.

In conclusion, Michael Clarke also pointed out that the pressure of the favourite tag should only spur on top teams at the World Cup and not the other way around.