Mohammad Kaif claims Rohit Sharma knows his batters are incompetent on spinning tracks

Former Indian batsman turned commentator and media analyst Mohammad Kaif feels that India’s Test captain Rohit Sharma knows very well about his batsmen’s inability to counterattack quality spin bowling and that he will require assurances from the batters heading into the 2nd Test in Vishakhapatnam’s ACA-VDCA cricket stadium.

Rohit Sharma was among the Indian batters that faltered against England’s spin battery in the 4th innings while trying to chase down a total of 231 on a difficult surface at Hyderabad. None of the batters came up with standout performances and the top as well as middle-order were evidently under pressure following Ollie Pope’s knock of 196 runs.

Debutant left-arm finger spinner Tom Hartley was the center of attraction due to his extra-ordinary performance which saw him register figures of 7/62 as he named the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, KS Bharat, Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj.

England’s most experienced spinner in the playing XI Jack Leach and part-timer Joe Root accounted for the wickets of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer while Ben Stokes produced an emphatic fielding effort to run out Ravindra Jadeja in the non-striker’s end.

Following the dramatic 28-run loss, many former cricketers bashed Rohit Sharma for his poor tactical thinking with fielding and bowling changes during England’s 2nd innings with the bat. India were in total turmoil in the 1st Test and if Rohit was hoping for things to improve in the next match then it might not be the case as two key players – Ravindra Jadeja and KL Rahul have been ruled out due to injuries.

The management will now be gambling upon the names of Rajat Patidar and Sarfaraz Khan to play at number 4 but one thing is for sure, India have just become even more weak. Former batter Mohammad Kaif claimed that India would struggle due to Jadeja’s absence and backed Kuldeep Yadav ahead of Washington Sundar to replace the all-rounder.

“In the next match it will be difficult to fill in the void created by Jadeja’s absence, so Washington Sundar can also be considered because if Kuldeep Yadav plays then the batting will only be till No. 8. But I think because Kuldeep is already there in the squad, he will get the nod ahead of Sundar,” Kaif told TOI in an interview.

“Team That Played In The Last Test Was The Best Playing XI”, Kaif Opines On Rohit Sharma’s Side For 1st Test

Mohammad Kaif went on to claim that India’s playing XI for the 1st Test in Hyderabad was the best XI picked by Rohit Sharma and the Rahul Dravid-led management. Kaif also expressed his concerns about the Indian batters struggling in turning tracks.

“India’s main plan is that they should have players who can bat till at least No. 9. When you play on a turning track, even Rohit Sharma knows that India’s batsmen will also struggle, so he wants assurance and security in the batting. The team that played in the last Test was the best playing XI.” – Kaif concluded.