Clarke scored 51 on his comeback match in Sydney club cricket on Saturday after undergoing surgery on his hamstring in December.
The 31-year-old skipper was injured during the first Test against India in Adelaide and Steve Smith and George Bailey took over the captaincy duties in Tests and ODIs respectively.
"I don't think Australia can win the World Cup without Clarke," Warne told Sky Sports.
"Australia were in disarray just over 12 months ago but under his captaincy, they won the Ashes 5-0 and then beat South Africa in South Africa.
Bailey captained Australia clinched the ODI tri-series title after defeating England by 112 runs in the final in Perth yesterday.
However, Warne said if Clarke is fit then Bailey will not figure in his playing XI as the stand-in skipper is not a strong enough batsman.
"Good bowlers can bowl at George Bailey and make him unable to hurt you, so I would say if Clarke is fit he drops out, as the rest of the top five - David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson and Steve Smith - picks itself," Warne said.
Australia won the World Cup in 1987, 1999, 2003 and 2007.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
