Mohammad Kaif labels Rohit Sharma's team 'white-ball bullies' after BGT debacle, fires shots at Pakistan

Mohammed Kaif has launched a scathing attack on India’s current approach after they lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 to Australia. Kaif said that all the critics would start singing praise for the Men in Blue once they crush Pakistan in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The former Indian batter was referring to the ongoing uproar on social media against the Indian cricket team after their 1-3 Test series loss to Australia. In his bold statement, Kaif said that Team India is more focused on white-ball cricket and is falling behind in the Test arena.

Mohammad Kaif criticizes India’s focus on white-ball cricket after BGT loss

Mohammad Kaif emphasized that if India is serious about winning the World Test Championship (WTC), they need to build a solid Test team that would be capable of handling challenging seaming conditions and turning tracks, as they are currently “just white-ball bullies.”

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Like others, Mohammad Kaif also asked the Indian players to go back to domestic cricket and embrace tough conditions to be ready for all the challenges thrown by the red-ball cricket if they want to win the ICC World Test Championship after they failed to qualify for the WTC Final 2025.

The truth is that we are just white-ball bullies: Mohammad Kaif

Mohammad Kaif said in a video posted on his X handle on January 5: “On 23rd February, India will earn a lot of praise by beating Pakistan (in the Champions Trophy 2025), and everyone will say we are a champion team in white-ball cricket. But if India wants to win the World Test Championship, then we will have to make a Test match team.

We will have to learn to play on seaming tracks. The truth is that we are just white-ball bullies. We are lagging too far behind. If we have to win WTC, then players will have to play domestic cricket on turning tracks and will have to practice on seaming tracks; otherwise, we will not be able to win.”

Meanwhile, cricket experts and former cricketers are urging Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to play in the upcoming second round of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, starting January 23, due to their horrific run since September. Kohli has averaged just 30 since 2022, with 190 runs in nine innings on the recent Australia tour, including a century in Perth.

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Mohammad Kaif defends Gautam Gambhir after Australia Test series debacle

Rohit struggled even more, scoring just 31 runs at an average of 6.20, the lowest by any touring captain in Australia. Following India's 1-3 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Mohammad Kaif also urged the national cricket team to intensify their focus on Test cricket and play more domestic matches.

Kaif emphasized that without proper practice, winning the World Test Championship will remain a distant goal for India. He urged Team India to put in the hard work needed for Test cricket. But at the same time, the former cricketer admitted that top players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma would miss the Ranji season once again due to the demanding schedule.

He signed off by saying, “It's not just Gautam Gambhir who is at fault. All players get the chance to play in the Ranji Trophy, but it gets tiresome for the players, and they prefer rest over playing in the Ranji Trophy. They don't play Ranji Trophy; they don't play practice matches. Then how will they become better players? It's tough to play on turning tracks in India and tougher to play on seaming tracks in Australia and South Africa. So, if you don't practice well, WTC will keep eluding you. Now, India needs to work hard in Test cricket.”

Khari khari baat.. Kadwa sach#TestCricket #BGT #AUSvIND#CricketWithKaif11 pic.twitter.com/WXFJY9aLSq

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) January 5, 2025