'I was so close to being underneath a truck': Clarke reveals horrifying accident after IPL final
New Delhi, June 5
Former Australia skipper Michael Clarke revealed that he was involved in a serious road accident when he was heading to the airport after the Indian Premier League 2026 final in Ahmedabad. He described it as a "frightening experience" but was able to escape with a few bruises.
Clarke, who was part of the commentary panel for the recently concluded IPL 2026, revealed he was travelling as a passenger in the vehicle when it collided with a semi-trailer, leaving the front half of the car wedged underneath the truck.
"Interesting trip home, to say the least. Let me start by saying thank God for good people in India. That's why I made it home safely," Clarke said on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast.
"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. The driver explained to me that the brake lights on the truck weren't working. So my driver had hit the truck up the backside. Again, it was a big semi-trailer, and our car had gone underneath," Clarke revealed. "The car's certainly written off," he added.
While the former Australian captain escaped with some bruises, he feared that the driver suffered a broken leg. "I got away with some bruises, but I definitely think he had a little break in his leg. I was really concerned because he was so scared. It wasn't his car; he works for the company," Clarke added.
The former World Cup-winning skipper further expressed his gratitude to the BCCI officials, who consistently checked on both him and his injured driver following the accident.
"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. 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.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Imagine surviving the IPL final excitement only to nearly die on the way home! 😱 Clarke's a tough cookie, but seriously, our roads are dangerous. The driver must have been terrified - not just the accident but worrying about his job. BCCI should help with his medical bills and more.
As an Aussie who loves IPL, this hits home. Clarke's right about good people in India - the response from BCCI and locals shows the best of India. But let's be honest: road accidents are a huge problem here. Truck maintenance needs serious enforcement.
Main concern is the driver - broken leg, scared, and worried about his job because it wasn't his car. Our system needs to protect such workers. Clarke's gratitude is genuine, but we need better road safety laws. National Highway Authority should take note. 🚛
Clarke's a legend for recognizing the good in India even after such trauma. The BCCI handling was world-class. But this could have been avoided if truck drivers checked their lights. Hope this incident leads to stricter vehicle inspections on highways.
"These things happen all the time" - that's the sad truth about Indian roads. But Clarke's grace and gratitude are inspiring. Shows our culture of helping others. The driver's broken leg is a reminder that immediate medical and financial support is crucial for accident victims.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.