Eng vs Ind 2018: Mohammad Kaif Rubbishes Ravi Shastri’s Comparison Comments
Sep 10, 2018 at 2:05 PM
Former Indian batsman Mohammad Kaif has rubbished Ravi Shastri’s comparison comments. Indian head coach had recently said the current Indian team has had the best run in the last 15-20 years. However, former Indian skippers Sunil Gavaskar and Sourav Ganguly had criticised Shastri for his overconfident statements.
In fact, the current team India is yet to savour any success while playing in overseas conditions. Thus, it doesn’t make any sense for Shastri to put this Indian team on the top list. The previous teams had some greatest names and it would be unfair to compare a different team in a different era.
Ravi Shastri had said recently, “I can’t see any other Indian team in the last 15-20 years that have had the same run in such a short time, and you have had some great players playing in those series. So the promise is there, and it’s just about getting tougher mentally”.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Kaif believes it is unfair to compare the current team with the previous teams, which have also done well.
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Mohammad Kaif said while talking to Jagran.com, “I don’t know whether Ravi Shastri is right or wrong. However, if you compare players, then it is unfair. When we played under the leadership of Sourav Ganguly in 2002, we won there. The current batting coach of India, Sanjay Bangar was the opener with Virender Sehwag. Rahul Dravid was the captain of the side when we won in West Indies in 2006. I was also part of that series. If we compare those era’s players and the current Indian players, there is a day and night difference”.
Kaif who recently hanged his boots from all forms of the game went on to add, “Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag, they were big players. When we used to go on overseas tour in those times, these players had the skills to play in foreign conditions. Now, it is the T20 era, where players like to be more aggressive in their approach. That is why we got dismissed here. While playing in India, we play on flat pitches whereas we are playing on seaming pitches in England. Consequently, you need to alter your technique. So, don’t compare those great players with these players. In fact, except Virat Kohli, no current player is close to previous generation players”.
Ravi Shastri has time and again put the current Indian team on the top of the table. However, the Indian head coach should also respect the former Indian team which have done well in alienate conditions. Thus, Mohammad Kaif has hit a nail on the head.