In a controversial statement, Clarke, the captain of Australia’s 2015 World Cup-winning squad said that for a while Aussies did not sledge Kohli and ‘sucked up’ to Indians as they were wary of their IPL contracts. "Just by being nice to someone doesn't get you a place in IPL," Laxman, the mentor of IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad told Star Sports on the show 'Cricket Connected'.
"Any franchise will look at the player's calibre and value add to the team, which gives them desired results by winning matches/tournaments. These are the kind of players who get IPL contracts. So just being nice to someone will not earn you a spot in the IPL," Laxman added.
Sharing his experience as a mentor, Indian cricket’s Very Very Special man said that the main criteria for selection remains players who have done very well for the country.
"If you're friendly with any Indian player it doesn't mean that you are getting IPL contract. As a mentor, I'm on the auction table and we select players, those international players that have played exceptionally well for their country and can add value to the franchise. Friendship with any Indian player doesn't ensure entry into the IPL," the man famous of his epic 281 against Australia went on to add.
India’s 1983 World Cup-winning opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth also backed Laxman on the issue, adding sledging does not win matches. "You do not win matches just by sledging. Aussie's loss is a loss, his statement was ridiculous I would say," he said.
Srikkanth felt that sledging was very overrated. "If you ask Nasser Hussain or Sir Vivian Richards who are experienced players, you can never score runs or get wickets through sledging. You need to play good cricket and showcase determination; you need to bowl well to get wickets and bat well to achieve targets. Sledging cannot help in any way according to my opinion," he further stated in 'Cricket Connected'
Earlier, Australian Test captain Tim Paine also rubbished Clarke’s claiming, stating they did not sledge Kohli as part of the team strategy to keep the Indian captain quiet, and that it had nothing to do with IPL.
--By A Cricket Correspondent