Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes India tends to panic after losses and has urged the team management to back the same playing XI for the upcoming Manchester Test, despite their recent defeat.
India’s Post-Loss Panic
Mohammad Kaif has observed a distinct pattern in India’s team selections. He notes that whenever the team faces a defeat, there’s a tendency to make several changes to the playing XI. However, after a victory, they generally prefer to stick with the same squad.
Kaif pointed out that after losing the first Test, India made two or three changes. But following their win in Birmingham, only Jasprit Bumrah was added, with no other significant alterations. This suggests a reactive rather than a consistent selection approach, according to him.
Backing the Current Squad for Manchester
Despite a close loss in the third Test, Kaif strongly advocates for continuity. He believes the team should retain the same players for the Manchester encounter. He specifically mentioned Karun Nair, who has been getting starts but hasn’t converted them into big scores.
Kaif feels Nair deserves another opportunity. He sees this upcoming match as a crucial test for the leadership, particularly for captain Shubman Gill and the selectors. The question remains whether they will panic and alter the squad or show faith in the existing players after a hard-fought defeat.
Praise for India’s Performance
Kaif was highly appreciative of India’s overall performance in the series, despite trailing 2-1. He highlighted that India has dominated for a significant portion of the series, showing strong performances with both bat and ball.
Many experts had predicted a heavy defeat for India (0-4 or 1-4) before the series began. However, Kaif noted that this young Indian side has surprised everyone with their competitive spirit and skill.
Youngsters Stepping Up
The former cricketer emphasized that India has been playing without several key experienced players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Despite these significant absences, the young team has risen to the challenge and delivered.
Kaif pointed out that India lost two very close matches, including the third Test where they were chasing 193 runs. He specifically lauded Shubman Gill, who has led from the front both as captain and with his batting, silencing doubts about his ability to perform in English conditions. With a little more luck, Kaif believes India could have won all three Tests.
- Mohammad Kaif observes India’s tendency to panic and change the XI after losses, but not after wins.
- He advises backing the same team for the Manchester Test, including Karun Nair.
- Kaif praises the young Indian team for surprising critics and performing well despite missing key players.
- Shubman Gill has successfully led the team and performed well with the bat.
The upcoming Manchester Test will be a true test of the team’s resolve and the management’s trust in their players, as India looks to bounce back in the series.
