Mohammad Kaif has never been one to mince his words. After India’s disappointing exit from the World Test Championship (WTC) final race, the former cricketer didn’t hold back. In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter), Kaif shared his thoughts on India’s current Test struggles and what he thinks could bring some redemption.
“On 23rd February, India will earn a lot of praise by beating Pakistan in the Champions Trophy,” Kaif said. “And everyone will say we are a champion team in white-ball cricket. But the truth is, we are just white-ball bullies.”
A Wake-Up Call for Indian Cricket
India’s 3-1 series loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has sparked criticism. Many fans and experts have pointed fingers at head coach Gautam Gambhir and senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. However, Kaif believes the solution lies deeper than just blaming individuals.
“If India wants to win the WTC, we need a proper Test team,” Kaif explained. “We have to learn to play on seaming tracks. Players need to play domestic cricket more often and practice on turning and seaming pitches. Without that, we’ll keep struggling in red-ball cricket.”
Kaif also highlighted the scheduling issues that keep players away from domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy.
Why Players Skip Ranji Trophy?
One of Kaif’s main concerns was the absence of senior players from the Ranji Trophy. He pointed out that players often skip these crucial games to rest between international series and major tournaments.
“Players don’t play Ranji Trophy because they prefer to rest. But how will they improve if they don’t play on tough pitches? It’s hard to play on turning tracks in India and even harder on seaming tracks in Australia and South Africa,” Kaif emphasised.
He called India’s recent Test loss a necessary wake-up call, urging players to focus more on their red-ball game.
“India lost 1-3, and I think this is a wake-up call,” he said. “We need to pay more attention to Test cricket. What’s happened has happened. Now it’s time to work harder and prepare better.”
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The Champions Trophy Showdown
Kaif is optimistic that India’s clash against Pakistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be a turning point. The high-stakes match is scheduled for February 23, and Kaif believes it could help fans forget the recent Test disappointment.
“Beating Pakistan will earn us a lot of praise,” Kaif said. “But if we want sustained success, especially in Test cricket, we need to make big changes.”
India’s next Test challenge is a five-match series in England after IPL 2025. With conditions expected to be challenging, Kaif’s concerns about seaming tracks seem even more relevant.
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