Michael Clarke Not Convinced With India's Number One Rank In Test Cricket

Team India’s juggernaut in Test cricket continued to roll as the Virat Kohli-led side thrashed Sri Lanka by an innings and 177 runs in the last Test at Pallekele to complete the 3-0 whitewash. The series win was India’s eighth in a row as the team consolidated its position at the top of Test cricket.

India is yet to lose a series under Virat Kohli’s captaincy since he led the team against Sri Lanka in 2015 which was his first full series as captain. India had won that series 2-1 which was their first Test series win in Sri Lanka after 22 years. After that, the Kohli-led side has defeated South Africa 3-0 before transforming into a world-beaters during the mammoth 2016-17 season when they defeated West Indies (2-0), New Zealand (3-0), England (4-0), Bangladesh (1-0) and Australia (2-1).

One can measure India’s dominance over the past couple of years from the fact that they are leading second-placed South Africa by 15 rating points. But despite the team registering series wins over almost all the major Test playing countries under Kohli, former Australia skipper Michael Clarke feels the team needs to replicate the performances in tough conditions of South Africa, England and Australia to justify their numero uno status.

“If India can beat South Africa, Australia and England in away conditions, there will be no doubt that India is the number one team in the world,” Clarke told with NDTV.

Well, one cannot disagree with Clarke’s comment as India has had a torrid time in overseas Tests in recent times and Kohli’s team would surely want to change it to truly justify their number one tag.

At the same time, Clarke said the team is full of confidence and is ‘ticking all the right boxes’ under Kohli’s captaincy

“The Indian team right now is full of confidence,” Clarke said.“India are ticking all the right boxes under the captaincy of Virat Kohli. He wants to win and doesn’t want to take a step back.”

Meanwhile, Australia are set to tour India in September for a limited-overs series and Clarke feels it will be a ‘great challenge’ for the reigning ODI world champions.

“This tour will be a great challenge for Australia as India, at the moment, are playing very well. Obviously the Australian supporters expect their team to be best in the world,” Clarke asserted.