New Delhi, India

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke isn't sure if the upcoming India-Australia Test series will be Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's last tour of Australia. However, if it is so, Clarke opined that it will be due to retirement as the duo 'won't be dropped'. The ex-skipper, however, has backed the two to be among the runs in the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 edition. Rohit and Kohli have not been in great touch and managed only 91 and 93 runs, respectively, in the three Tests versus New Zealand, at home. It was one of the major reasons for India being whitewashed by the Kiwis. While Clarke agreed that they have earned some slack, he feels both will do well in Australia.

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Speaking on Rohit and Kohli's future, Clarke said in 'Around the Wicket' podcast, "If it's their last time here in Australia, I think it will be retirement. They won't be dropped, but it the same breath, I think every cricketer knows that if you're not making runs or taking wickets, there will be conversations around that kind of a thing. Being the captain of the team, you get a slack for that, and if you're the world's best batter for the last 10 years – maybe longer – across formats, I think Virat may get a bit more slack than somebody else.

He further opined, "I hope for this series' sake, Test cricket's sakes, they both come out, get back to their best form and score plenty of runs for India, but also Test cricket. We want to see the Australian attack which is a good one, take on the top-order batting of India which is pretty strong in itself."

Also read: MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit and Dravid wasted 10 years of my son's career, claims Sanju Samson's father

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Clarke is optimistic of both Rohit and Kohli being among runs and going past their poor form. He added, "I think they are probably coming into Australian conditions where they both like playing. Rohit Sharma plays fast bowling as good as anyone in that team. Certainly, short-pitch bowling – he'll take the Aussie on with that hook shot and he plays it up over third man. And Virat is class. His record his phenomenal. He has scored six hundreds in 13 Tests, averages over 50 in Australian conditions. My brain doesn't say they're going to come here and fail. They will be tough to get out and I think the Australian bowlers will need to find a way to dismiss them both early in the innings as often as they possibly can."

Kohli averages 54.08 with six hundred and four fifties in Australia in 13 Tests. Meanwhile, Rohit averages a mere 31.38 including three half-centuries.

India's tour of Australia kicks off later this month, on Nov 22, with the five-match Test series opener at Perth.