Clarke believes playing conditions, particularly in Australia where England are touring at the end of the year, may force Steve Smith to pick a fast bowling all-rounder ahead of Maxwell.
"Conditions will dictate which way they go when they get back to Australia," Clarke said in a live chat on his Facebook page.
"Will they want the fourth fast-bowling option as the all-rounder, or will they stay with Glenn Maxwell?
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"Especially if Steve Smith is not bowling Maxi, then he becomes a legitimate batsman so he's got to be making a lot of runs to stay in the team."
Clarke also derided an Australian newspaper report which compared Indian captain Virat Kohli to U.S. President Donald Trump because of his "continual perpetuation of fake news".
The report, which focused on a row over whether Smith had mocked Kohli's shoulder injury during the second test, was laughable, Clarke said.
"I find it quite funny and am sure Virat will also find it quite funny," said Clarke.
The four-match test series between India and Australia, which is tied at 1-1, concludes with the final encounter in Dharamsala starting on Saturday.
(Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru)
