Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has backed the young Indian team to bounce back and level the ongoing Test series in England, stressing that panic after defeats could derail momentum.
In an exclusive interaction with IANS, Kaif praised Indias resilience despite missing senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, and R. Ashwin, and credited captain Shubman Gill for stepping up both as a leader and as a batsman.
Kaif also called for consistency in selection, urging the team management not to react hastily to defeats. You played good cricket for four days and lost on the fifth mdash; that doesnt mean you change your plans,rdquo; he said, emphasising the need to support players like Karun Nair and trust the current XI.
With Jasprit Bumrah most likely to feature in the crucial next Test too and the batting unit in form, Kaif remains optimistic. Theres a strong chance of a 2ndash;2 finish mdash; India just needs to stay calm and play smart.rdquo;
Excerpts:
On Indias performance in the series:
Kaif: India dominated for 12ndash;13 out of the last 15 days. They played solid cricket mdash; both with the bat and the ball. When this team landed in England, most people predicted a 0-4 or 1-4 defeat, but theyve surprised everyone.
Without Kohli, Rohit, Shami, and Ashwin, this young team stood up and delivered. They lost two close matches mdash; Headingley was in Indias grasp, and so was the final Test while chasing 193. Shubman Gill has led from the front mdash; as captain and as a batsman. There were doubts about his ability to perform in English conditions, but he answered with the bat. With a bit of luck, India couldve won all three Tests.
On the chase in the last match at Lord#39;s and Ravindra Jadejas approach:
Kaif: Jadeja played a brilliant innings mdash; full credit to him. But maybe, just maybe, if he had played 10 per cent more aggressively, the result could have been different.
It was a Day 5 pitch mdash; the ball was reversing, bounce was uneven, and conditions were tough. When Siraj came in to bat, he faced only three deliveries. At that stage, you have to manage the strike mdash; be mindful of how many balls youre exposing tailenders like Bumrah or Siraj to.
Jadeja had done 90 per cent of the job. Just 10 per cent more mdash; a few calculated risks mdash; and the chase mightve been completed. But its easy to say from the outside. Only the batter knows the pressure in that moment. Still, it was a memorable knock.
On Indias fielding:
Kaif: Overall, Indias fielding was decent. There were a few misfields and dropped catches mdash; but that happens in every series.
Karun Nair really impressed me mdash; strong hands, clean catching, and excellent technique. Rishabh Pants absence was felt. A fully fit Pant wouldve made a big difference behind the stumps.
Jaiswal dropped a crucial catch in the final match mdash; it came at a turning point. Moments like these can swing games. Still, the catching was fairly solid. Both Shubman Gill and KL Rahul took some sharp ones.
On fielding, taping, and technique:
Kaif: I#39;m not a big fan of heavy taping. Your fingers go numb, and you lose flexibility. When you tape heavily, it thickens the area. When the ball hits, the tape acts like a sponge mdash; it softens the impact, and the ball tends to pop out.
When I used to field, Id use saliva mdash; Id spit on my hands to help the ball stick better. Fielding is about accepting pain. You cant avoid it mdash; you have to bear it.
Jaiswal is a good fielder mdash; weve seen it in the IPL and in Tests. But with too many layers on the fingers, you lose natural grip and feel. That likely contributed to the dropped catch.
On Team Indias selection mindset:
Kaif: One thing Ive noticed mdash; when India loses, they panic. When they win, they stick with the same XI.
After losing the first Test, they made 2ndash;3 changes. But after winning in Birmingham, only Bumrah came in mdash; no other changes. Thats been the pattern.
Even after losing the third Test, I believe they should back the same team going into Manchester. Karun Nair has been getting starts mdash; 30s and 40s mdash; but not converting. Still, he deserves another opportunity.
To me, this is Englands weakest bowling attack in years mdash; no Broad, no Anderson, and Archer is still on his way back. Ive never seen an England attack this light. And yet, we couldnt chase 193. Thats where we lost the game.
This is a test for both Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir. After a close loss, will they panic and make changes? Or will they trust the players?
On team mentality and approach:
Kaif: First of all, dont panic. Panic leads to pressure mdash; and pressure leads to mistakes. Yes, India now needs to win both of the remaining Tests. But that doesnt mean you lose your calm. The key is to stay composed.
On Indias batting:
Kaif: I believe 80ndash;90 per cent of the Indian batting unit has performed well. Gill is in form, Jaiswal has made valuable contributions, Pant is playing with confidence, and Jadeja has been scoring consistently. Sundar has chipped in too. If the batting is working, theres no reason to change it. Just repeat the same approach.
On Jasprit Bumrah:
Kaif: Ive heard that Bumrah will feature in the next Test mdash; and thats huge. Hes been taking wickets and providing breakthroughs. He nearly won the last match for India with the ball.
Hes had a much-needed break, which will help him recover. This is a high-stakes match mdash; if India loses, the series is gone.
On Team Indias chances:
Kaif: Theres a real possibility of India levelling the series 2ndash;2 mdash; and I believe that possibility is quite high. I see this team capable of making a strong comeback.
On Shubman Gills captaincy and toss decisions:
Kaif: So far, Shubman Gill has lost three tosses mdash; two where we batted first and one where we chased. We lost the match where we bowled first.
On Shubman Gills captaincy and toss decisions:
Also Read: LIVE Cricket ScoreThats the mindset we need. Shubman is still young and learning mdash; he has the potential to grow into a strong leader. These experiences will help him evolve.
Article Source: IANSYou may also like
Thailand temple scandal: Monks caught in $12m sex-blackmail scheme; King cancels birthday ceremony invite
PhonePe's Pincode empowers offline retailers, digitalises over 1,000 offline stores
Disturbing Visuals: Man Ends His Life By Jumping Under Moving Truck In Gujarat's Surat
Mechanic issues warning over 'unfixable' problem that could make your car 'worthless'
Exporters can now hand-carry jewellery for exports via new facilitation centre at Mumbai airport