Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has opened up about a frightening road accident that took place after the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad. Clarke, who served as part of the tournament’s commentary set-up, said he was on his way to the airport following the title match when the crash occurred, describing the moment as genuinely shocking.
Clarke explained that he was not at the wheel at the time, travelling as a passenger. According to him, the vehicle collided with a semi-trailer, and the impact was severe enough that the car ended up partly wedged underneath the truck. He admitted he was shaken by what happened, but said he managed to get out of the situation with only a few bruises.
Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, Clarke recalled the drive home in vivid detail. “Interesting trip home, to say the least,” he said, adding that he felt fortunate to have made it back safely. He then described how he had fallen asleep after the game and only woke up when he realised the extent of the damage in front of him. “I was asleep. I fell asleep after the game, travelling. Obviously, I wasn’t driving. Then I woke up to virtually the front half of the car being under a truck,” he revealed.
Clarke said the driver told him the truck’s brake lights were not working. As a result, his own driver, Clarke said, hit the back of the semi-trailer. “Again, it was a big semi-trailer and our car had gone underneath,” he added, before stating plainly that the car was effectively written off.
While Clarke said he did not suffer serious injuries, he expressed concern about the other driver. He suggested the impact could have caused a serious problem for the man behind the wheel. “I got away with some bruises, but I definitely think he had a little break in his leg,” Clarke said, noting that he was particularly worried because the driver was visibly frightened. Clarke also clarified that the driver involved in the crash was employed by the same company, and that this made the situation even more concerning for him.
Clarke also praised the people who rushed to help immediately after the accident, highlighting the quick response from locals. He further mentioned that officials associated with the BCCI checked on him and on the injured driver following the incident. “Everyone at the BCCI, everybody there, they’ve been checking in on him and they’ve been checking in on me. They’ve been unreal. So I’m very grateful for that,” he said.
Concluding his account, Clarke described the crash as a straightforward accident—one that can happen frequently, but one that was especially unsettling for him because of how abruptly he woke up. “It was a complete accident. These things happen all the time, but for me it was more the shock because I was fast asleep and then woke up to see myself so close to being underneath a truck,” he said.
