Australia or India? Michael Clarke predicts the scoreline of ODI series; picks leading run-scorers

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The excitement in the cricketing world is peaking as India and Australia prepare to lock horns in a three-match ODI series starting October 19 in Perth. The series comes at a crucial juncture for both sides, serving as a test of depth and adaptability ahead of a busy international calendar. For Indian fans, the biggest attraction is the return of two modern-day greats — Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli — both set to feature in ODIs for the first time since the 2025 Champions Trophy.

The duo, who have transitioned into playing only the longer formats of white-ball cricket, will reunite in Indian colours after nearly five months. Their presence is expected to bolster India’s batting unit, while Australia will rely on their potent pace attack led by Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc to counter them. The rivalry between the two nations has always produced high-quality cricket, and this upcoming ODI series promises another enthralling chapter in their rich history.

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has weighed in on the highly anticipated series, offering his prediction for the final outcome. Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, the World Cup-winning skipper backed his country to edge India by a 2-1 margin, though he admitted that the series could swing either way given India’s strength and balance.

“Is there a washout? If there’s no rain, I’m saying 2-1 Australia. I think it’s going to be tight. So, I’m going 2-1 Aussies. I’ll stick with that, but I’m not confident. It’s 2-1 one way. I’m going to the Aussies. I’m going hard,” Clarke said with a grin, acknowledging that the Indian side remains capable of upsetting the hosts.

Clarke also praised India’s depth, calling their middle order and spin attack ‘world-class.’ He added that the Australian conditions will test India’s adaptability but felt confident that the home team’s familiarity with the pace and bounce could tilt the balance slightly in their favour.

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The 44-year-old further shared his thoughts on who might dominate the run charts during the series. Clarke picked Kohli and Rohit as the prime contenders to top the batting tally but leaned slightly towards Kohli, citing the advantage of batting in the middle order in Australian conditions.

“Well, in my opinion, it’s one of Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli. I’ve just got this thing — if it is their last trip to Australia, they’ll want to leave on a high. I think batting at number three or four is probably a little bit easier in Australia than opening because Rohit will open, so I’m going to go with Virat Kohli, leading run-scorer,” Clarke said.

Both stalwarts boast stellar records Down Under. Rohit has accumulated 990 runs against Aussies at an impressive average of 58.23, including four centuries. Kohli, on the other hand, has notched 802 runs at an average of 41.17, with three tons and five fifties. With both legends eyeing one final flourish on Australian soil, fans can expect fireworks when the series kicks off at the Perth Stadium.

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