Michael Clarke leads mind games ahead of India vs Australia series

India’s tour of Australia is kicking off in a few days but mental games have already begun. Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has shared his views on the current team and how it is going to fare against a formidable Australian team.

Clarke believes that it is important for India to win the limited-overs series. He thinks that Virat Kohli will have to set the winning tone during the limited overs, else India may fail to register a single win in the Test series

“These one-dayers and these Twenty20s is where Virat Kohli can really stand up and lead from the front. I think the tone he sets with this team will play a big role when he leaves, after the first Test match,” Clarke said on ‘Sky Sports Radio’ on Tuesday.

“If India don‘t have success in the one-dayers and the T20s, they are in deep trouble in the Test matches and they’ll get smoked 4-0, in my opinion,” he added.

“He (Bumrah) is quick, he’s got a really different action, so I think he needs to set the tone and be really aggressive to the Australian batters. Even to someone like Steve Smith, he’s got to use that short ball consistently and regularly, as Jofra Archer did to Steve Smith in the Ashes,” Clarke further said.

Clarke, who has been a part of some of the memorable India vs Australia encounters added that Virat Kohli and Bumrah are India’s best bet and these two will have to be at the top of their game if India are to trouble the Aussies at home.

“They’ve got to take the Aussies on and those two players are India’s best two players to be aggressive to the Australians,” he signed off.