Michael Clarke has opened up about a frightening road accident that happened soon after the IPL 2026 final, when he was travelling toward the airport. The former Australia captain, who was working as part of the commentary setup, said the crash left him shaken but relieved that he escaped with only bruises.
Quick facts
- Michael Clarke says he was involved in a serious road accident shortly after the IPL 2026 final.
- He was a passenger in the vehicle when it collided with a semi-trailer.
- Clarke reported waking up to find the front portion of the car under the truck.
- He said the driver later told him the semi-trailer’s brake lights were not working.
- Clarke feared the driver may have suffered a broken leg.
- He thanked local people who helped and BCCI officials who checked on both him and the injured driver.
- Despite the scare, Clarke said he still managed to catch his flight home.
Clarke described the journey back as “interesting” and stressed his gratitude toward people in India who stepped in to help. Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, he said he made it home safely and thanked “good people” for their support.
“I woke up to the front half under a truck”
The 45-year-old revealed that he had fallen asleep after the final and was jolted awake by the impact. He said he wasn’t driving, and when he came to, he saw that the front section of their car was under a truck, with the vehicle left partially lodged beneath it.
Clarke explained that the driver later shared details of what went wrong. In his account, the semi-trailer’s brake lights were not functioning, and the driver’s car struck the vehicle from behind, causing the car to go underneath the truck. He added that the car was effectively written off.
Clarke’s concern for the driver
While Clarke said he walked away with bruises, he admitted he was worried about the driver’s condition after the crash. He felt the impact could have caused a break in the driver’s leg, noting that the driver was badly shaken.
Clarke said the driver became even more anxious because the vehicle belonged to the company he worked for. He told the driver to get medical attention and said he hoped the driver eventually went to hospital.
Thanks to locals and BCCI officials
Clarke also reserved special appreciation for the response he received immediately after the accident. He highlighted that officials connected with the BCCI checked on both him and the injured driver, and he credited local people who rushed to help as well.
In his reflection, Clarke said the incident was a “complete accident” and that such events can happen frequently, but for him the shock was intensified by the fact that he had been asleep. He described the moment of waking up and realizing how close he was to being underneath the truck as the most unsettling part.
Despite the ordeal, Clarke said he managed to catch his flight home. He ended by looking back on his time involved in IPL work, calling it another “awesome” campaign and saying he was fortunate to be part of it again.
