Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif criticised India captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid for mishandling their strategy during the ODI World Cup final against Australia last November. Kaif alleged that they were responsible for tampering with the pitch before the loss in Ahmedabad.
India, considered the leading favourites to clinch the title on their home turf for the first time in over a decade, maintained a perfect record in the tournament’s group stage, securing ten consecutive wins. However, despite their impressive form, the Indian team collapsed against a well-prepared Australian squad on a difficult pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium in the final match.
Kaif commented on Ahmedabad pitch and notes that Rohit and Dravid conducted routine evening inspections for three consecutive days leading up to the final. In an interview with the Lallantop, Kaif mentioned witnessing the pitch gradually changing hues, and he criticised the Indian team management for manipulating the pitch before their eventual defeat.
Kaif said,”Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid came in the evening to inspect the pitch and this was done for three days straight, and I saw the pitch changing colour. Cummins hai, Starc hai, inke paas tez gendbaazi hai toh inko slow pitch do aur wahan galti hui.(I was there in Ahmedabad for three days. They have Cummins, and Starc who are fast bowlers, so give them a slow pitch and that was a mistake).”
“Log kitna bhi bole curator apna kaam karta hai hum kuch nahi bolte, bakwaas hai(No matter how much people say that curators make the pitch and we don’t interfere. It is all nonsense),” Kaif remarked.
