Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has slammed the team management after 0-2 whitewash against South Africa. Kaif recalled that the team’s think tank had put the blame of 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand on the shoulders of veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
The Kiwis had dominated the Indian team and Kohli and Rohit had managed 93 and 91 runs in three Test matches respectively. After the home series, Kohli scored 190 runs in five Test matches at an average of 23.75 against Australia, whereas Rohit managed only 31 runs in five innings at 6.20.
Ahead of the England tour, both the batters decided to call time on their Test careers. Kaif also questioned Sarfaraz Khan’s exclusion after he scored a fine knock of 150 runs against New Zealand. The former UP batter said the team management has played a key role in removing veteran players like Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami.
Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube Channel, “Our eyes didn’t open after the 3-0 defeat to New Zealand. The blame was put on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Sarfaraz Khan was scoring 150 on a seaming track but was dropped. The preparation was anyway not there. In Guwahati, Washington Sundar came to bat after Nitish Kumar Reddy. So, we are committing mistakes continuously. From No.3, Sundar went to No.8. He shouldn’t have batted at No.3 in the first place. They removed the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami. If there was communication and transparency, they would have stopped Virat Kohli from retiring. Even Ashwin’s retirement could’ve been stopped by saying that he will be needed in India. We lost our diamonds in search of youth.”
Kaif said India is yet to fill the big shoes of Cheteshwar Pujara at number three position. Sai Sudharsan has been given a chance but he is yet to prove his mettle. Furthermore, Kaif highlighted that Nitish Kumar Reddy hardly bowled in the series against the Proteas.
“There is no No.3 like Pujara even now. They are not giving proper chances even to the new players. Who plays six bowlers in India? Ashwin and Jadeja were often enough to win a Test match in India. Nitish Kumar Reddy played and he hardly bowled. When Australia came to India in 2004, there were only four main bowlers for them – McGrath, Lee, Gillespie, and Warne. Along with that seven specialist batters. Here, India are playing six bowlers and making mistakes consistently.”
India will next face South Africa in a three-match ODI series.
