Mohammad Kaif slams India’s team management, says players are playing with fear

Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif slammed the Indian team management for not backing the players to the hilt after the hosts suffered a 30-run loss against South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Sunday.

India’s number three batter Sai Sudharsan was dropped from the playing XI despite scoring a decent knock of 87 runs in the second Test match against the West Indies at Delhi. 

Citing Sai Sudharsan and Sarfaraz Khan’s example, Kaif highlighted that the team’s think tank is not backing the players despite their good performances. Khan had also scored a fine knock of 150 runs against New Zealand but was dropped after he failed in the next Test.

Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube Channel, “Whichever players are playing, they don’t have a feeling that someone is standing for them. Koi backing nahi hai, sab darr ke khel rahe hain. (There is no backing; everyone is playing with fear.) Sab dar ke khel rahe hain, koi khul ke nahi khel raha (Everyone is playing in fear, nobody is playing with freedom). If Sarfaraz Khan’s place is not confirmed after 100 scoring a hundred. Even after scoring 100, he’s not able to make a comeback. Sai Sudharsan scored 87. He doesn’t play the next Test match. I think there is a lot of confusion in this team.”

“Players ko apne pe belief kam ho gaya hai, thoda insecurity bhi aa gyi hai (Players are not believing in themselves, there is insecurity as well). When there is insecurity and you come to play at turning tracks, you won’t be able to do well,” he added.

Meanwhile, Washington Sundar returned with scores of 29 and 31 in the opening Test match, and Kaif highlighted that the left-hander has the experience of playing on a spin-friendly pitch in Chennai. The former UP batter said India would have won if they had played Sai Sudharsan in the final XI as the left-hander also an impressive technique against the spinners.

“Why did Sundar play well? He comes from Chennai. He has grown by playing on turning tracks. He knows how to use his feet and which balls to play with soft hands. How to keep the bottom hand.”

“Sai Sudharsan also comes from Chennai. If he were there at No. 3 and Sundar at No. 8, you would have won this Test match. He plays spin very well. Sudharsan comes from Chennai. He’s in form and scored 87. He’s not there in the playing XI,” he added.

India and South Africa will take on each other in the second Test at Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, from Saturday onwards.