‘Sachin was a different player to Virat Kohli’ – Michael Clarke backs Indian star to continue in Test cricket

Michael Clarke backs Indian star to continue in Test cricket (Photo Source – Getty Images)

Michael Clarke backed Virat Kohli to get back among the runs after the talismanic batter scored just 190 runs across nine innings during the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The former India captain has been having a tough time in the red-ball format, averaging just over 30 in Tests in the last five years.

Experts have tried to analyse the technical flaws leading to his downfall. One of the glaring weaknesses revealed during the tour of Australia was his vulnerability against deliveries bowled outside the off-stump. He had this problem earlier in his career but had addressed it over the years. However, the nightmares have come back to haunt him once again. Some have started to wonder whether Kohli’s days in the longest format are numbered, while others have suggested that he should step away to allow the next generation of batters a chance to showcase their talent.

However, Clarke dismissed this school of thought as he said that the 36-year-old could score a double-century in the next game he plays. The former Australia captain feels that Kohli still has a lot to offer to Indian cricket in the red-ball format.

“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 said while speaking on his Beyond23 Cricket podcast.

Clarke asserted that had he been the captain of the team, he would have done his best to ensure Kohli features in it.

“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,” said Clarke.

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Sachin was a different player to Virat Kohli: Michael Clarke

Kohli was dismissed edging to deliveries outside the off-stump on eight occasions during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. There were calls for him to learn from Sachin Tendulkar’s epic knock of 241* in Sydney in 2004, where the Master Blaster didn’t play a single shot through the cover region. However, Clarke explained that Kohli and Sachin are different players, with the former being someone who likes to get bat on the ball.

“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,” concluded Clarke.