NEW DELHI: Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has expressed his strong support for Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli, stating that if he was captain he would “fight with the team management” to ensure Kohli remains in the squad despite his recent struggles in Test cricket.
Clarke made these remarks on the Beyond23 Cricket podcast, where he discussed Kohli’s form during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and his overall importance to the Indian team.
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Clarke acknowledged that Kohli hadn’t scored as many runs as he would have liked in his recent Test matches but emphasized the batter’s immense talent and impact. “It’s Virat Kohli! This guy can make a double hundred tomorrow. He’s that good a player. This guy could play, he should play until he’s had enough. If he retires from Test cricket right now, there’s only one team losing out, it’s India,” Clarke remarked.
Kohli scored a century in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but struggled to make significant contributions in the subsequent matches. Despite this, Clarke stressed that he would back Kohli without hesitation. “If I was captain of any team that Virat Kohli was in, even though I know he didn’t make as many runs as he would have liked, I’m fighting for him to stay in my team,” Clarke said.
The Indian batter’s repeated dismissals outside off-stump during the series drew criticism from fans, with many recalling how Sachin Tendulkar famously avoided the cover drives during his iconic double hundred at the SCG. However, Clarke pointed out the fundamental differences between the two players.
“Sachin was a different player to Virat Kohli. A lot of people during this Australian summer were saying Sachin did it in a Test match. He got out cover driving a couple of times and then let it go to make a 200 at the SCG. Sachin is a different player to Virat. Virat’s greatest strength is bat on ball. He just plays it in a different way,” Clarke explained.
Clarke’s remarks highlight his belief in Kohli’s enduring abilities and value to the Indian Test side, reinforcing the idea that Kohli’s presence on the field is a significant asset despite a lean patch in form.
