Rohit Sharma Should Lead India Across Formats In Virat Kohli's Absence: Michael Clarke

Former Australia World Cup-winning captain Michael Clarke has reckoned that star opener Rohit Sharma should lead India in every format in the absence of Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli will miss the last three Tests of the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia since he’ll return home in order to be with his Bollywood actor wife Anushka Sharma who is due to deliver the couple’s first child in January.

Meanwhile, there is still uncertainty around Rohit Sharma’s participation in the Test series. Sharma has already been ruled out of the first two Tests due to injury and his participation in the last two will depend on his fitness test which will take place on December 11.

On Rohit’s injury issue, Michael Clarke said that he would have done anything in his power to ensure that the 5-time IPL-winning captain got fit for the Australian tour.

“If I was picking the Indian team before they came to Australia and knew that Virat was going to go home after the first Test, I would have picked Rohit Sharma. 100 percent. Because I think he needs to captain India if Virat Kohli is not there. His captaincy and leadership is outstanding. Once again, he showed that during the IPL and another IPL win, he knows how to lead men. I think he should be captain of India in any format if Virat Kohli is not there,” Michael Clarke told India Today.

“That being the case, I would have done everything in powers to get Rohit Sharma fit and have him bat at No. 6. Once Virat goes, he takes over the leadership.” he added.

 

‘His captaincy is pretty good’- Michael Clarke on Ajinkya Rahane

In the absence of Virat Kohli, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will spearhead Team India. Michael Clarke heaped high praise on the middle-order batsman, adding that he is a tactically good captain.

Clarke further added that if the Indian team-sans Virat Kohli beats Australia in their own backyard, then it will be an unbelievable achievement for the group but for that to happen, the former skipper said that the team needs to first believe in themselves that they are good enough to beat the Australians.

”I love Jinx (Rahane) too. He is a great player. His captaincy is pretty good. Tactically, he is a very good captain and it’s going to be good for India. You have got to see it as an opportunity. You have got to try and create history,” Michael Clarke said.

If India can beat Australia at Australia’s own backyard without Virat Kohli, you can celebrate for a year. That will be an unbelievable win. I think that’s the way Indian players have to look at it. They have to believe they are good enough to take on and beat this Australian team.” he added.

Also Read- Michael Clarke Claims India Cannot Win The Test Series Without Having Success In White-Ball Games