View source for Australian Cricketers apos;sucked Up apos; To Kohli To Save IPL Deals: Clarke

Virat Kohli is regarded as one of the greatest cricketers in the game and hugely influential at home in India<br>  <br>Australian cricketers "sucked up" to India and Virat Kohli by holding back on verbal sledging to protect lucrative Indian Premier League deals,  [https://inborncricketer.blogspot.com/2020/06/virat-kohli-proposed-by-english-player.html https://inborncricketer.blogspot.com/2020/06/virat-kohli-proposed-by-english-player.html] according to former Australia captain Michael Clarke.<br> <br>Clarke said players were "too scared" to play a normal game against India because of the influence of the world's wealthiest cricket tournament.<br> <br>"Everybody knows how powerful India are in regards to the financial part of the game, internationally or domestically with the IPL," Clarke said on Sky Racing television.<br> <br>"I feel that Australian cricket, and probably every other team over a little period, went the opposite and actually sucked up to India.<br> <br>"They were too scared to sledge Kohli or the other Indian players," he said, referring to the verbal sparring that often takes place on the pitch.<br> <br>Australian players have attracted big money since the IPL started in 2008. Paceman Pat Cummins is the most expensive overseas star this year with Kolkata Knight Riders paying $2.17 million.<br> <br>The contest has been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic and the league must announce soon whether it will be held at all.<br> <br>The league was due to feature top internationals including England's Ben Stokes and David Warner of Australia.<br>          Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke said players were afraid to "sledge" Indian skipper Virat Kohli because they didn't want to risk lucrative IPL contracts<br>  <br>Clarke, who played for the now-defunct Pune Warriors in 2012, said Australian players coveted the million-dollar deals on offer.<br> <br>"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 for my six weeks"."<br> <br>"I feel like that's where Australia went through that little phase where our cricket become a little bit softer or not as hard as we're accustomed to seeing."<br> <br>The league is a huge revenue earner for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is estimated to generate more than $11 billion for the Indian economy.<br>