Former Australian cricketer Michael Clarke says Aussie players were too afraid to sledge Indian skipper Virat Kohli due to lucrative IPL deals
He said Australian cricket and other world cricket team sucked up to India to protect their contracts in the cash-rich cricketing tournament Indian Premier League. Clarke added due to IPL, the international cricket teams have gone softer against India that immensely benefitted India in the last decade.
“Everybody knows how powerful India is in regards to the financial part of the game, internationally or domestically with the IPL,” Clarke told Big Sports Breakfast.
“I feel that Australian cricket, and probably every other team over a little period, went the opposite and sucked up to India. They were too scared to sledge Kohli or the other Indian players because they had to play with them in April,” said Clarke in a show Big Sports Breakfast.
“Name a list of 10 players and they are bidding for these Australian players to get into their IPL team. The players were like: ‘I’m not going to sledge Kohli, I want him to pick me for Bangalore so I can make my $1 million US for my six weeks’.”
“I feel like that’s where Australia went through that little phase where our cricket became a little bit softer or not as hard as we’re accustomed to seeing.”
He added that players are always looking to play IPL and secure hefty deals hence they have taken a less aggressive approach against Team India.
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Michael Clarke’s comments have come months after several Australian players have sealed big contracts with IPL franchises. Fast bowler Patt Cummins broke the record of the most expensive foreign player at the IPL auction. Kolkata Knight Riders had picked him up for Rs.15.5 crore. Glenn Maxwell got Rs.10.75 crore from Kings XI Punjab.
Meanwhile, Australian limited-overs captain Aaron Finch was sold to Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs.4.4 crores.