“I’d have done the exact same thing if I was in his position” - Michael Clarke on reports of Rohit Sharma missing 1st Test of 2024-25 BGT
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has backed Rohit Sharma's decision to miss the first Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, set to begin on November 22, to be with his family. With just days left until the match, it seems certain that Rohit will not play.
According to reports, he informed the BCCI of his desire to take time off following the birth of his son with his wife Ritika Sajdeh on November 15.
In an interview with Revsportz, Michael Clarke expressed that he would have made the same choice if he were in Rohit's shoes, noting that certain moments, such as the birth of a child, outweigh the significance of any Test match or World Cup. Clarke said:
“Let me tell you something, mate. I loved playing for Australia and I loved captaining Australia. I loved the baggy green. Having said that, the happiest day of my life was when my daughter was born. Much more than a Test match or a win or even a World Cup. It is very different, and you can’t equate it to anything. Family comes first, mate. A Test match will come again, but this is a very very different moment."
"Yes, Rohit will be missed. His leadership will be missed, but I can tell you I’d have done the exact same thing if I was in his position. You can’t take these things away from anyone. No two ways, mate. You have to realise and understand that we are human beings first. Rohit has done the absolute correct thing. Now, he can travel and join the team and fully immerse himself into the job. And he will be a key player for India, for sure. But what he has done is exactly the right thing to do,” Michael Clarke added.
The 37-year-old is likely to rejoin the team ahead of the second Test, which starts on December 6 in Adelaide.
"Test cricket doesn’t let you think about anything else" - Michael Clarke on whether players will be distracted by the IPL auction
While the Border-Gavaskar Trophy gets underway in Perth on November 22, the IPL 2025 mega auction will take place on November 24-25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Several Australian and Indian players are set to be auctioned, but Michael Clarke believes this will not affect their focus on the game.
In the same interview, the 43-year-old said:
“Test cricket doesn’t let you think anything else, mate! It is very tough out there. You will not have access to your phones or to the Internet, and when you step inside the ground, it is just the game and nothing else. Players can check all this either before or after the game."
"The IPL is a fantastic tournament and I just love it. I have been there to commentate and can tell you it is hugely exciting. But to say the auction will be a distraction for Test players is unfair and not true. I can’t imagine [Mitchell] Starc thinking about the auction while bowling! It doesn’t happen like that," Michael Clarke continued.
574 players will be part of the IPL 2025 mega auction, with 366 from India and 208 overseas, including three from Associate nations.