Mohammad Kaif, a former India batter, made a startling bid for captaincy ahead of the five-match Test series between England and India. Headingley, Leeds, will host the opening Test on Friday, June 20.
Shubman Gill has been named the new Test captain ahead of the England series, following the retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Mohammad Kaif gave an explanation of Gill’s selection as the next Test captain in a video posted to his YouTube account.
“Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had given a statement that hey talk a lot behind the scenes and take feedback. Gill captained in the IPL as well and Gujarat played very well in the league phase. His experience in captaincy has increased from there. Selectors have also shown faith. He has scored runs as well as captain in the IPL. They got feedback that he has the calmness. He does not succumb to pressure. He is a leader. He has the tactical sense as a captain.”
Mohammad Kaif
“They took this feedback from people in the dressing room and made him captain. His record as a batter in Tests is not great. He has to prove himself in Tests and the pressure will be there. But as there is no Rohit Sharma, no Virat Kohli, Bumrah is injury prone and he may not play all Tests.”
Mohammad Kaif
However, Mohammad Kaif believes that Rishabh Pant, rather than Gill, should have been named captain because he is more deserving of the position. He noted that Pant had more match-winning knocks in Test cricket than any other batsman in the current Indian team. In keeping with the future, Gill was appointed captain, added Mohammad Kaif.
“I believed that Rishabh Pant was more worthy compared to Shubman Gill. He should have been the captain. No one in the current squad has played as many match-winning knocks as Pant. He captains in the IPL as well. However, as Gill was doing well in the IPL, the feedback was to invest in him as captain. They have played a gamble on him that he can win us the series. It is an investment for the future, that is why Gill has been made captain.”
Mohammad Kaif
Notably, Pant is the current Indian Test team’s vice-captain, and they will be playing in England.
Mohammad Kaif believes finding Virat Kohli’s replacement will take time
Mohammad Kaif in the same video commented that it would take some time to get a replacement of Virat Kohli and it is not happening overnight. Recently, Kohli had to retire as a Test cricketer earlier on this year.
Kaif talked about the energy and intensity that Kohli brought to the field. He did, however, advise the supporters to adjust to watching the Indian squad play in Test matches without Kohli.
“You will not find a player like Virat Kohli right now. The replacement cannot happen now. It will take time. He is a big batter who has a great record and has played many years for India and captained as well. His replacement will not be found right away and he is being missed too.”
Mohammad Kaif
“When the Test series will happen and you will not see him, the emotion will be there. The energy that he brings to the ground, the way he scores runs, he has a different style of playing and that is why you will miss him and look around for him. However I feel that we should get used to seeing the Indian team playing and winning without Virat Kohli. Shubman Gill is the captain and we wish that he does well.”
Mohammad Kaif
Mohammad Kaif went ahead to say that there are several young stars in the current Indian team in England. He requested fans to embrace the new generation and rally behind this lot to perform well regardless of the fact that this is a relatively young team.
