Michael Clarke will be commentating on the IPL. His podcast, the Beyond 23 podcast, all of us watch. He’s spoken at length about the Champions Trophy and this interview is also leading into the Trailblazers Conclave.
Question from Gargi Raut of RevSportz: If India wins the Champions Trophy, like the T20 World Cup, should Rohit Sharma retire on a high or would you want him to continue?
I think it’s up to Rohit. I think with a lot of these senior players in all teams, not just India, when you’ve given so much to your country, you’ve played for such a long period of time and had so much success, you like to see them leave on their own terms. So I think that would really be determined by Rohit. If he feels like he’s had enough, then he has that option to retire. If he wants to continue to play, then I think he’s certainly still in good enough form to keep playing.
Question from Rajarshi Ganguly, the sports editor of Sangbad Pratidin: All of us thought this is a weakened Australian side, but look at what they are doing. Are you surprised or is it about something that happens to the Australian team ICC tournaments?
No. I’m not surprised that Australia are playing the way they’re playing. I think our batting has a lot of experience. It’s just our bowling — because we’re missing (Mitchell) Starc, (Josh) Hazelwood and (Pat) Cummins — that is a little bit less experienced. But a lot of these guys have all played a certain amount of games for Australia in the lead-up to this tournament. I think they’ve been waiting for an opportunity, to be honest. I think we’re certainly good enough to make the final. And this team will be a lot more confident now, particularly after that win against England.
Second question from Rajarshi Ganguly: You have always supported Virat Kohli. Were you surprised at the way he played against Pakistan?
Not surprised one bit. I think the great players always seem to stand up when they’re under pressure or when the team needs them the most. I love seeing him in the nets. It was an hour and a half before training started the day before that Pakistan game. That shows there were areas he wanted to work on, but it also shows how important it is for him to still go out there and make runs. And he batted like a genius.
Question from Shutopa Bhowmik, sports editor of Aajkaal newspaper: Who is likely to win the Champions Trophy? Will it once again turn out to be Australia’s, because all of us are completely in awe of the way they are playing.
I think Australia will be in the final and I think they’ll be playing India. I want Australia to win, but I actually think India is going to win the Champions Trophy. I think they’re the best, they’re the number one team in the world at the moment. The fact they’re playing in the conditions in Dubai where if they do make the final, that’s where the final will be. Their team really suits those conditions. Three wonderful spinners, in conditions that are probably a little bit slower paced than Pakistan. So I think it’ll be Australia-India final and I think India will win by one run.
Question from Sucharita Sen Chaudhary, Allsportsindia.com: You said in your podcast that Rohit Sharma will be one of the highest run getters in the Champions Trophy. Why did you say it and how sure were you that Rohit will come back to form?
He’s back in form, there’s no doubt about it. I think that 100 he made in India before the Champions Trophy showed he’s certainly hitting the ball well. He’s got an important role, particularly in those conditions. He’s got to play with that aggressive intent. He’s got to maximise the power play. I wouldn’t be surprised if India were to win the Champions Trophy and Rohit Sharma was the leading run scorer.
Question from Sanchita Chatterjee of Tripura Darpan: What is your view about the IPL?
I absolutely love it. I think it’s been amazing for the game. It’s brought a lot of nations together, a lot of players together. It’s improved the way cricket’s played. You see players playing shots that they’ve learnt through playing in the IPL and T20 cricket. It’s been amazing for the game. I love being a part of it, when I played and now to commentate.
Question from Anirban Sengupta of Aajkaal: Do you agree that India is the powerhouse of world cricket at the moment?
Yes, I certainly do. I think there’s a handful of teams certainly in Test cricket that on their given day, in their own conditions, particularly, they’re tough to beat. I think winning a series in India is as tough as it gets. You know, I thought Australia played very well against India in the Test series last summer out here in Australia. But in the one-day format, I think they’re the number one team in the world. They’re very dominant.
Question from Nitika Chakraborty of Khash Khabar: Do you believe Snicko is not 100% consistent? And what is the solution? Because there is always an element of doubt.
My take on technology is if you get it 100% right, then use it. My concern is that we don’t use the same technology all the time. Some countries use it. Some countries don’t. Some countries use Hotspot or Snicko. Some countries don’t. I think it’s got to be one in, all in. I think if we’re going to use it, if we think it’s better for the game, then I think it should be used in every single game.
Question from Sudipto Bhattacharya of Aaraukhamon: How excited are you about cricket’s inclusion in the Olympics?
If I was playing, I’d love to go to an Olympic Games, to have the chance to win a medal would be unreal. So I’m excited that it’s in the Olympics. But I don’t know if cricket needs to be in there. I’m excited to speak to the players about what it’s like. I’m sure they’ll love it. And then make a decision after that.
Question from Shamik Chakrabarty of RevSportz: Has the IPL revolutionised cricket?
Well, definitely, T20 cricket. It’s changed the way the game is played. It’s brought a lot of countries and players together. The friendships and relationships that are made now, particularly because of the IPL, it’s been great for the game.
Question from Shubhashish Ghosh of Kolkata 24×7: Which match against India stands out the most for you as a player?
I had so many great games against India. My very first game for Australia was in Bangalore in 2004. Making my debut, to walk out and bat for my country for the first time and be in Bangalore and play against India and to win that series, was very special. To win in India is so hard. Making 300 at my home ground in Sydney was very special as well. So, yeah, I cherished my games against India. I found they’re always a tough opposition and I had to be at my best to try and score runs.
Question from Gautam Bhattacharya of National Herald: Given Australia’s awesome record in ICC finals, how do you fancy their chances against South Africa in the WTC final?
Is that game at Lord’s? Yeah. I think those conditions will suit them. I know South Africa have a good bowling attack. But those conditions will also suit the Australian bowlers. If our three fast bowlers, and add Scott Bolalnd to that and Nathan Lyon, I think they’ll be tough to face over there. I think Australia will win that game.
Question from Orchito Chatterjee of Sportslight Media: What is the secret behind Australia’s success in every ICC tournament?
I think Australia looks forward to the big moments, the big tournaments. A lot of people ask, why do we win World Cups or major events. The only thing I can sort of put it down to is, I think we probably don’t fear losing as much as we are excited about trying to win. You make decisions throughout a game where sometimes you can have the fear of it not working or you can have the fear of one decision costing your team the game. But I think I was always willing to risk losing to try and win. I loved winning. I accepted that sometimes you’re going to lose. But I don’t think that fear of losing was in the front of my mind.
Question from Bijoy Broto Bhattacharya of Pustak Publication: What advice would you give to young cricketers aspiring to play at the highest level, especially in terms of mental toughness and handling failure?
Practice, practice, practice. You learn so many of your lessons in training. There’s no truer saying than the harder you work, the lucky you get. I believe in that. I believe in hard work, discipline, being in the nets as a batter or bowler, working on fielding. I think the mental side of the game comes with preparation. If you can walk out onto the field and know you’ve put in all the work off the field in your preparation, I think that gives you a lot of self-confidence.
Two questions on Jasprit Bumrah, one from Shayan Gupta of Aajkaal and one from Rohan Chowdhury of RevSportz: So far, India hasn’t felt the absence of Bumrah. Who will you give credit for this? And how should India handle Bumrah? Should he be risked in the IPL? Because we have the England Test series coming up.
Well, it’s a tough one because you want him playing every game. He’s the best bowler in the world at the moment in all three formats. I think India have done exceptionally well in this Champions Trophy so far without him. But every team in the world will be a stronger with Bumrah in it. So I think conditions have probably played a part.
Bumrah seems like the type of guy that wants to play in the IPL for his franchise. He wants to play every game he can for India. So I think he’ll need to be managed the right way. And I think you can rest him for individual games at the right time. But yeah, of course, you want the best players playing. So I hope he’s fully fit. I hope he plays a majority of the IPL. And then you definitely want to see him in those Test matches against England.
Question from Boria Majumdar: In the 50-over format, Shubman Gill has really sort of come of age. Your thoughts on Gill? In this particular format, is he now ready to kind of be the successor to Virat Kohli?
I think he’s a wonderful player. And I think he complements this, you know, this Indian top order. I think having Rohit Sharma at the top with him allows him to play his natural game. They bat well together. The experience of Virat coming in at three, I think they complement each other really well. I think it’s just a matter of time before he dominates all three formats. He’s confident in the way he plays. He’s got all the shots. Yeah, I’m not surprised.
Question from Boria Majumdar: About Jay Shah becoming the ICC chairman, can he handle it?
Credit to Jay because so far, at least organisation-wise, the Champions Trophy has done very well. There have been in the past a lot of questions, etc. But credit where due. They have been able to do it well. I think he’s done a wonderful job so far. I love that he wants to prioritize Test cricket.
Also Read: The thought behind the Trailblazers Conclave
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