Mohammad Kaif on India’s debacle in Australia: We’re just white-ball bullies
Former India cricketer turned commentator, Mohammad Kaif, has come down heavily on the Indian team following their Test series loss against Australia.
Notably, India lost 1-3 in the five-match series against Australia as they failed to reach the World Test Championship (WTC) final for the first time.
Analysing India’s loss, Kaif called India ‘white ball bullies’ who’re lagging too far behind in Test cricket. He also mentioned how the entire nation will forget about the Australia series loss if we manage to beat Pakistan in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
“On 23rd February India will earn a lot of praise by beating Pakistan (in Champions Trophy) and everyone will say we are a champion team in white-ball cricket. But if India want to team the World Test Championship then we will have to make a Test match team, will have to learn to play on seaming tracks.
The truth is that we are just white-ball bullies. We are lagging too far behind. If we have to win WTC, then players will have to play domestic cricket on turning tracks, will have to practice on seaming tracks, otherwise we will not be able to win,” he said in a video posted on his social media page.
Further speaking ahead, the former batter said that it was a wake-up call for the team who must shift their attention towards Test cricket and focus on playing domestic cricket.
It’s not just Gautam Gambhir who is at fault: Kaif
“India lost 1-3, and I think this is a wake-up call, because now we have to pay our attention towards Test cricket. It’s not just Gautam Gambhir who is at fault. All players get the chance to play Ranji Trophy, but it gets tiresome for the players and they prefer rest over playing Ranji Trophy. They don’t play Ranji Trophy, they don’t play practice matches then how will they become better players? It’s tough to play on turning tracks in India and tougher to play on seaming tracks in Australia and South Africa. So if you don’t practice well, WTC will keep eluding you. What has happened, it has happened for the good and now Team India needs to work hard in Test cricket,” Kaif added.
The next round of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 begins from January 23, it remains to be seen whether the senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will return to play domestic cricket as the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is also on the horizon. India don’t play any more Test cricket till their tour to England in June later this year. Hence, the senior players will have to find a way to regain their form for the betterment of the team if India are to start the next cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) on a good note.