Former Indian batsman Mohammed Kaif has raised serious concerns about the mental state of India's Test team, claiming players are "playing with fear" due to insecurity about their positions under captain Gautam Gambhir's leadership.
Eden Gardens Collapse Exposes Deeper Issues
The criticism comes after India's disappointing 30-run defeat against South Africa in the first Test at Kolkata's Eden Gardens on Sunday. India's batting lineup put on an abject display on a crumbling pitch that saw the home team fall short despite favorable conditions.
Kaif pointed to the team's selection decisions as evidence of the instability affecting player confidence. The management opted for four spinners, including all-rounders Washington Sundar and Axar Patel, while leaving out specialist batsman Sai Sudharsan who had scored 87 in his previous appearance.
No Backing for Players Creates Fear Atmosphere
In a passionate analysis on his YouTube channel, Kaif expressed his concerns about the team environment. "There is no backing; everyone is playing with fear," Kaif stated in Hindi. "Sab dar ke khel rahe hain, koi khul ke nahi khel raha" - meaning everyone is playing scared, nobody is playing with freedom.
The former batsman highlighted specific cases like Sarfaraz Khan, who despite scoring a century in previous matches, finds himself out of national contention. Similarly, Sudharsan's exclusion after his impressive 87 runs demonstrates the lack of consistency in selection policy.
Turning Tracks Amplify Mental Fragility
Kaif explained that when players feel insecure about their positions, challenging conditions like turning tracks become even more difficult to handle. "Players are not believing in themselves, there is insecurity as well," he observed. "When there is insecurity and you come to play at turning tracks, you won't be able to do well."
The cricket analyst noted that Washington Sundar's composed performance stood out precisely because of his familiarity with such conditions. "Why did Sundar play well? He comes from Chennai. He has grown by playing on turning tracks," Kaif explained, highlighting how technical preparation combined with mental security produces better results.
Kaif concluded that the current confusion in team selection and lack of consistent backing has created an environment where Indian batsmen cannot perform to their potential, ultimately costing India the first Test against South Africa despite home advantage.
