Kaif blames constant team chopping for creating fear among players

The aftermath of India’s stinging 30-run defeat to South Africa at Eden Gardens has sparked a fierce debate regarding the team's internal atmosphere. Following a disappointing batting performance on a crumbling Kolkata track, former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif has launched a scathing critique of the current leadership. Specifically, Mohammed Kaif on Gautam Gambhir has become the talking point, as the former batter claims that the head coach's management style has instilled a sense of fear rather than confidence in the dressing room.

The loss in the first Test highlighted glaring issues in the batting order. Despite opting for a spin-heavy attack that included all-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, the management made the controversial decision to drop specialist batter Sai Sudharsan. This move backfired as the batting lineup collapsed, despite a gritty performance from Sundar in his new batting position.

"No Backing, Only Fear"

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif did not mince words about the psychological state of the squad. He believes that the constant rotation of players has created a toxic environment where no one feels their spot is safe.

"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)," Kaif remarked.

He emphasized that to succeed on turning tracks—like the one seen at Eden Gardens—players need clear minds and self-belief. However, the current "chop and change" policy has eroded that confidence.

Baffling Selection Calls

Kaif pointed to specific examples to validate his claims of instability. He highlighted the case of Sarfaraz Khan, who seems to have vanished from the selection radar despite proving his worth with a century. Similarly, the exclusion of Sai Sudharsan was termed confusing.

"Sai Sudharsan scored 87. He doesn’t play the next Test match. I think there is a lot of confusion in this team," Kaif argued. He noted that both Sundar and Sudharsan hail from Chennai and are naturally gifted at playing spin. Kaif suggested that had Sudharsan played at number three, with Sundar providing depth at number eight, the match result could have been vastly different.

According to Kaif, until the management provides job security, players will continue to falter under the pressure of losing their place rather than focusing on the opposition.