Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif slammed team management after the ODI series against the West Indies. Kaif said the team’s think tank is spoiling young players, as they are not giving them consistent chances.
Auqib Nabi Dar made his ODI debut in the second game of the series but he was dropped in the final match as Anshul Kamboj made his ODI debut. Debutant Anshul Kamboj conceded 82 runs in nine overs he bowled in the third ODI, whereas Auqib Nabi Dar was taken for 84 runs in 8.5 overs he bowled on his debut in the second game.
All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy also played two matches in the series and was dropped in the second game. However, Naman Dhir and Gurnoor Brar were given chances in all three games.
“You are bringing new guys but not backing them. If you have played someone, give more chances. Why did they drop Nabi? Kamboj also got hit anyway. You are spoiling young players by doing this. I don’t know when Nabi will play white-ball next. Maybe he won’t play at all. This is wrong. You do not have backups. If this planning continues, it is going to hurt,” Mohammad Kaif said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Kaif said Shubman Gill is still a work in progress as an ODI captain. Gill has led India in 15 matches, winning eight and losing seven.
Kaif concluded, “He has less experience and is a work in progress. He is still learning as a captain and getting into that role. The biggest thing hurting him is that he is a young captain with a young bowling team. There is less time for the World Cup and it is seen that he is panicking. You played Nabi in one game and dropped him. You gave Reddy the new ball in one game and then changed that. Then you played Kamboj. They lost because they also had the penalty and had to bring fielders in. Because he was clueless when so many runs were being scored and was taking time.”
India’s next ODI series is against New Zealand.
