After India’s humiliating 30-run defeat to South Africa in the Kolkata Test, the team is facing sharp criticism from all sides. On the spin-friendly pitch, India’s batting collapsed badly. Amid this backlash, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has levelled a serious allegation against the team management, accusing them of creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity within the squad.
“Players Are Playing Under Fear”
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif said that the biggest problem with the current Indian team is the lack of clarity and trust.
He stated, “There is too much confusion in the team. The players look low on confidence. Everyone is playing with fear; no one feels that the management is backing them.”
Citing examples, Kaif said that despite scoring a century, Sarfaraz Khan could not secure his place in the team and was dropped without being given enough opportunities. Similarly, Sai Sudarshan, who scored 87 in the previous match, was also left out of the next Test.
According to Kaif, “If scoring 100 runs doesn’t earn a player the management’s trust, how can the rest of the players feel confident?”
Major Questions on Spin Preparation
Kaif also criticised India’s preparation against spin after the team’s poor batting performance. He said Washington Sundar survived because he grew up playing on Chennai’s turning tracks.
“Sundar knows when to use footwork and when to soften his hands against spin. Chennai players naturally play spin well.”
Kaif believes that if Sai Sudarshan had batted at No. 3 and Sundar lower down the order, India could have easily won the Test.
“Sudarshan is also from Chennai and plays spin well. He was in good form with an 87, yet he wasn’t included in the XI. This shows deep confusion in the team management’s decisions.”
Strategy of Team Management Under Question
According to Kaif, if players are unsure about their place in the team, they cannot play their natural game and eventually crumble under pressure. He added that constant changes and questionable selections have created insecurity among players.
India will now face South Africa in the second Test starting Friday.
