'India are so fatigued,' says former Australia player after Test series loss against New Zealand

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke said that the Indian team looked fatigued as they lost the recently concluded home Test series to New Zealand. However, India suffered a rare 0-3 whitewash in a home Test to New Zealand team for the first time ever. Clarke said "mental fatigue", talking about the shot selection of the Indian batters as they had been playing non-stop cricket. New Zealand also 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.

Michael Clarke hopes to see Rohit and Virat get back in form 

However, Clarke didn't deny Team India's chances in the upcoming Test series against Australia. He also predicted that "freshened up" Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be at their best of form in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series.

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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 added.

However, both Rohit and Kohli didn't have the best of home Test season. While Rohit managed just 133 runs in 10 innings, former India captain Virat Kohli has scored 192 runs in 10 innings as well. Between them, they scored only two fifties over five Tests at home during the 2024 season as well.

"I disagree with Sunil Gavaskar," says Aaron Finch on Rohit Sharma's captaincy in BGT

Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar recently told India Today exclusively that Rohit Sharma should drop from his captaincy for the entire BGT series if he misses out on the first two Test matches due to personal reasons as well. However, Aaron Finch didn't agree with that and he also said that Rohit should be with his family and then resume the captaincy duties.

"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.