IND Vs AUS: Michael Clarke Backs Rohit Sharma To Score Big Hundred In Boxing Day Test

Last Updated:December 22, 2024, 14:11 IST

Rohit, who is India’s leading run scorer in the World Test Championship (WTC), has only managed to score one half-century in his last seven Tests for India.

Michael Clarke backs Rohit Sharma to score century in Boxing Day Test. (Picture Credit: Screengrab, PTI)

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has backed Indian skipper Rohit Sharma to score a big century in the fourth Test against Australia, which is scheduled to take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. Rohit, who is India’s leading run scorer in World Test Championship (WTC) history, has been horribly out of form these days. In his last seven Tests for India, Rohit has only managed to score one half-century.

He came out to bat at No. 6 for India in the second and third Tests against Australia and scored 3, 6, and 10 runs, respectively. But despite his poor performance in recent matches, Clarke, who is Australia’s third-leading run scorer in Test matches against India, has backed Rohit to score a big century in the Boxing Day Test.

According to Clarke, who led Australia to the 2015 ODI World Cup title win, the MCG will suit Rohit’s game, and he will be able to play his shots there.

“I am going (with) the skipper Rohit Sharma, big hundred. I think he likes the MCG. I think it will suit his game. I think he’s going to walk out there and play his shots. I am going with the skipper for India to lead the way for India,” Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast.

The former right-handed middle-order batter has also made a big prediction for star Aussie batter Steve Smith, who scored a century for the Baggy Greens in the first innings of the Brisbane Test, which ended in a draw.

Clarke feels Smith, who is on the verge of becoming the fourth Aussie batter to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket, will score a double century in the Boxing Day Test.

“I think Steve Smith will make a double hundred. I am gonna go Steve Smith for Australia’s leading run scorer in the Test match,” he added.

As far as the leading wicket-taker was concerned, Clarke feels Jasprit Bumrah will once again top the bowling chart for the world No. 2 Test team.

“Bumrah, India’s leading wicket-taker. He’s just been the standout bowler in both teams. He’s just been the standout, and he looks so dangerous. He looks like he can take a wicket every ball. So I am going to go with Bumrah as the leading wicket-taker for India. For Australia, I am going to say it’s Nathan Lyon’s turn,” Clarke said.