IPL deals main reason behind Australia not sledging Virat Kohli post-2015: Michael Clarke

Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke was a big name in cricket during his playing days. However, he has only played six matches as far as  IPL is concerned. 2015 World Cup winning captain w believes that a majority of current Australian cricketers have gone soft because of financial power that India has over game of cricket through IPL. Here is what he recently said about same.

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Fear of t being picked in IPL scares Australian players?

Michael Clarke, who appears as an analyst on a morning sports show, was quoted by Fox Sports as he said that over years, Australian team has gone soft in its approach towards India. Australian team of 2000s was torious for constant banter and sledging that it subjected its opponents to. But Clarke feels that players do t play that aggressively against India anymore. Clarke credited this change to fact that IPL is a massive money-making machine where most Indian players are captains. Since se Indian captains are involved in IPL bidding process, Australian players may choose to play it safe.

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Clarke n went on to mention how players may t want to sledge Virat Kohli because y might want to be picked by Indian captain-led Royal Challengers Bangalore and earn a lot of money for ir six weeks in IPL. Australian players have been in high demand during  IPL over years and it was very evident even in 2020 IPL Auctions where Pat Cummins became second-most expensive player to be ever sold in an IPL auction.

Cummins was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for ₹15.5 crore. Virat Kohli's Royal Challengers Bangalore picked up Australian white ball captain Aaron Finch for ₹4.40 crore and pacer Kane Richardson yet again for ₹4 crore. Kohli and Richardson have played for RCB previously, sharing a good bond and ar common interest in adopting a plant-based diet completely.

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Kings XI Punjab also bought back Glenn Maxwell for a whopping ₹10.75 crore. Michael Clarke's recent comments echoed Maxwell's former Kings XI Punjab teammate Virender Sehwag's, who had also claimed in 2019 that Australian players would prefer to t sledge Indians because y have IPL to play for.

Under MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli made waves in 2012 when he made an hand gesture towards crowd at SCG. Indian captain's relationship with Australia has always appeared to be very polarising. In 2019 Australia vs India Test series, mics even picked up banter between Australia captain Tim Paine and Aaron Finch as duo reflected on why latter has never played for RCB in IPL.

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