Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has backed Hardik Pandya’s squad, despite their dismal performance in the present five-match series against the West Indies. Kaif has asked Indian fans to show their support for the Men in Blue ahead of the 2018 ODI World Cup in India.
For the final two matches of the current ODI series, the team management rested skipper Rohit Sharma and veteran batter Virat Kohli. As they lost the second match, the decision drew condemnation from the cricketing community. The Men in Blue, though, came back to win the series 2-1.
Don’t write off Indian team: Mohammad Kaif
Mohammad Kaif took to Twitter to request the fans not to write off the Indian team, mentioning that Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid will bring the World Cup home. He said, “Small request for cricket fans: Don’t write off Indian team. Show unity, don’t be divided by your individual choice of players. Rohit and Dravid have played big tournaments without stars like Bumrah. World Cup is coming home, the boys need your support.”
Recently, veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin came out in favour of skipper Rohit Shama and head coach Rahul Dravid, claiming that critics were only looking for flaws. Victory in international cricket, cannot be taken for granted. He said, “Some (people) were shocked because we lost to a team that didn’t qualify for the World Cup. Many people think that India’s only job in international cricket is to win the World Cup. People think India are favourites to win the World Cup because of the IPL.”
The off-spinner also urged fans to support the Men in Blue and avoid negativity, emphasizing that winning a World Cup is challenging. “Winning a world cup is not easy…just because we play a certain player or drop a certain player, we can’t win. All of us are hindsight kings. Hindsight doesn’t work here.”
India has already finished its ODI schedule in preparation for the Asia Cup. They will, however, play a last series against Australia at home before the World Cup, which begins on October 5th.
Here’s how fans reacted
No bumrah and pant in big tournaments for India lately. Rohit Sharma has been really unlucky as captain. Time to support and back him. ??
— ANSHUMAN? (@AvengerReturns) August 6, 2023
Regular W Kaif bhai
— User45 (@140off113) August 6, 2023
Bilkul bhai haar jeet ki inko padi nahi, IPL chalta rahe jeb bharti rahi, gadhe mein gyi ICC ?
— ???????? Divyansh (@DC_9812) August 6, 2023
Let them show the intent. Saying that they want to , will not lead the fans anywhere !!!
— sanjayjalaan (@sanjayjalaan) August 6, 2023
We all are Supporting Indian Team..
— I Love India ?? (@JaiGehlot2023) August 6, 2023
Do they even care about World Cup?
— The 12th Man (@dixitd) August 7, 2023
We are upset because India is the only team still plays with four number 11s. We have Tilak, if we don’t bowl him against WI, we will never have batters who can bowl part time like sachin, Sehwag, yuvi and saurav! Selection has been biased and guys like Samson r treated poorly!
— bhuvy.eth (@BhuvyEth) August 6, 2023
We know how India fairer under Rahul Dravid Captaincy in 2007 World Cup.
— GR?8 (@rohit_ro8) August 7, 2023
