Former Australian captain Michael Clarke felt that Team India looked fatigued as they lost the home Test series to New Zealand. However, India faced a rare 0-3 whitewash in a home Test at the hands of the New Zealand team for the first time ever. Clarke added “mental fatigue”, claiming on the shot selection of the Indian batters as they had been playing non-stop cricket. However, New Zealand became the first team in 12 years to breach India’s fortress and win a Test series on their home soil as well.
“Take nothing away from New Zealand but It tells me India are so fatigued. Some of their shot selection, the use of bowlers and even Rohit to come out and say he wasn’t at his best – just Think it was mental fatigue. They’ve played so much cricket without a break, but it’ll be a little kick up the backside for them,” Clarke said in Around the Wicket Podcast.
However, Clarke didn’t downplay Team India’s chances in the upcoming Test series against Australia as well. He also predicted that “freshened up” Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be at their best in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series as well.
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“They know they’ve played well out here in Australia and they’ll still come here with plenty of talent and that self-belief, but hopefully fresh. That’s the key for the Indian players. Virat Kohli – you can’t be that good for such a long period of time and just turn the tap off. So once he freshens up, and Rohit Sharma the same, you’ll see the best of them,” he again added.
Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar recently told India Today exclusively that Rohit Sharma should drop from the leadership for the entire series if he wants to miss out on the first two Test matches due to personal reasons. However, Aaron Finch didn’t agree with that and said that Rohit should be with his family and then resume the game.
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“I disagree with Sunny on that totally. Rohit Sharma is the captain of the Indian cricket team. If you need to stay at home because your wife’s going to have a babyâ€æ that’s such a beautiful momentâ€æ and you take all the time that you need in that regard,” he said.
