‘Smoked’: Michael Clarke’s sledge to India captain Virat Kohli

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has boldly claimed India will get “smoked” in the upcoming four-match Test series.

Michael Clarke and Virat Kohli.

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke boldly claimed India will crumble to a 4-0 defeat in their upcoming Test series unless skipper Virat Kohli fires in the preceding short-format matches.

Kohli dropped a bombshell on Cricket Australia earlier this month, announcing he would return to India following the first Test match at Adelaide Oval to be with his wife for the birth of their first child.

Although India still boasts a formidable batting attack, their squad undeniably looks less intimidating on paper without the 86-Test veteran.

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Speaking on Sky Sports Radio, Clarke suggested Kohli needs to have a considerable impact in the seven matches before his departure, otherwise his teammates will get “smoked”.

“These one-dayers and these Twenty20s is where Virat Kohli can really stand up and lead from the front,” Clarke said on Tuesday morning.

“I think the tone he sets with this team will play a big role when he leaves, after the first Test match.

“If India don‘t have success in the one-dayers and the T20s, they are in deep trouble in the Test matches and they’ll get smoked 4-0, in my opinion.”

Virat Kohli takes a catch.

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Although India’s batting is somewhat weakened by Kohli’s absence, their world-class bowling line-up remains intact.

With paceman Jasprit Bumrah leading the charge, India’s bowlers will look to replicate their devastating performance in the 2018/19 Test series, where no Australian could muster a century in four matches.

However, Australia was without powerhouse batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner, with golden boy Marnus Labsuchagne only selected for one match.

Smith has struggled with the short ball since he was struck by English speedster Jofra Archer during the 2019 Ashes series, a potential flaw that Bumrah will undeniably look to exploit.

“He’s quick, he’s got a really different action, so I think he needs to set the tone and be really aggressive to the Australian batters,” Clarke said of Bumrah.

“Even to someone like Steve Smith, he’s got to use that short ball consistently and regularly, like Jofra Archer did to Steve Smith in the Ashes.

“They’ve got to take the Aussies on and those two players are India’s best two players to be aggressive to the Australians.”

The first ODI between Australia and India will take place at the SCG on Friday, starting at 2:40pm (AEDT).