Michael Clarke feels India missed two important players in ODI series vs Australia

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke believes India's losses in the ODI series against Australia were due to the absence of star all-rounder Hardik Pandya and premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah, citing their lack of pace, power-hitting, and aggressive attitude.

06 Nov 2025 12:19 IST

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Former Australian captain and commentator Michael Clarke has reckoned that India would’ve won the three-match ODI series against Australia had they included Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya in their squad.

Notably, India suffered a 1-2 ODI series defeat Down Under. While Rohit Sharma was awarded the player of the series for his exceptional batting skills in Adelaide and Sydney, India went on to win only the Sydney ODI, losing the Perth and Adelaide games.

Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, the World Cup-winning Australian captain has asserted that the current Indian team is completely different whenever they’ve Bumrah and Pandya in their playing XI.

"India is a different team with Bumrah. I think that's the other thing we're seeing. They haven't played a lot of cricket together, this Indian T20 team, so it takes a bit of time to get used to Australian conditions. But I feel when Bumrah is playing, they're a different team and that is what they missed in the one-day series. If they had Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, I think it would have been a very different series," he said on 'Beyond23 Cricket Podcast'.

"Seeing him bowl in these T20s, he's one of a kind. He's actually that good. To be an individual player and to be able to be so defining in a win or a loss shows how good a player he is," he added.

Furthermore, Australia would be finding it hard in the absence of Josh Hazlewood and Travis Head in the fourth T20I at the Carrara Oval in Queensland. Clarke reckoned that the wicket is expected to be on the slower side.

"It's going to be good now. Now that both teams have won a game, particularly India getting that win, I think it does their confidence a world of good. Australia need to find ways. Playing at the Gabba suits Australia's style more so than the Gold Coast. I think the wicket will be slower there. Interesting to see if they make any changes. The series is in a good place," he concluded.

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