Michael Clarke predicts big performances from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke believes the recent Test series loss to New Zealand has exposed the Indian cricket team’s fatigue. India was swept 0-3 at home, marking its first-ever Test whitewash on home soil in a series of three or more matches. New Zealand’s win ended India’s 12-year streak of not losing a Test series at home, which Clarke sees as a significant moment for the Rohit Sharma-led side.

Reflecting on India's performance, Clarke said the team looked “mentally fatigued,” affecting their shot selection and bowling choices. Even captain Rohit Sharma admitted he wasn’t at his best. 

"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.

Looking forward, Clarke remains optimistic about India’s upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia. He expects a refreshed Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to shine, noting that their talent and experience will see them through challenging times. 

Clarke emphasized that Kohli’s long-standing consistency isn’t fading, adding, "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."

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy series will start on November 22 in Perth, followed by matches in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. Kohli and Rohit had a tough run recently, with Rohit scoring 133 runs and Kohli 192 runs across 10 innings during India’s home series losses. Clarke, however, expects them to rebound and make a strong impact in Australia.