Rishabh Pant Should Not Be The Water Boy Of The Team: Mohammad Kaif Targets Virat Kohli For Not Backing Players

May 17, 2020 at 2:43 PM

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Rishabh Pant Should Not Be The Water Boy Of The Team: Mohammad Kaif Targets Virat Kohli For Not Backing Players

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has advised Team India captain, Virat Kohli, to back players in the tough situation rather than opting for a replacement. He also expressed disappointment that Kohli is not backing Rishabh Pant even if he has been out of form lately.

Kohli is not usually criticised for his captaincy, but his selection of players has always been a debatable topic. According to Kaif, Kohli does a lot of experiments in playing XI, which is not healthy for building a team. He also pointed out that the last year’s World Cup was also affected because the skipper tried different combinations.

Virat Kohli, Mohammad Kaif
Virat Kohli. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

“Kohli is doing a lot of experiments with team selection. He should not have done that. Kohli tried many combinations and even selected players who don’t have so much exposure during the last World Cup. Kohli should focus and back his team selection. If any player lost his form for some matches, still he should support him. Kohli should make the players. Then only he can create a good team,” Kaif said during a live session on Helo App.

Mohammad Kaif on backing Rishabh Pant:

Virat Kohli, RIshabh Pant, Mohammad Kaif, MS DHoni, Indian national cricket team
Virat Kohli with Rishabh Pant. Image Credit: Getty Images.

The wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant was given a permanent place in the team after Dhoni went under sabbatical. Disappointingly, he has failed to capitalise on all the given opportunities and was dropped from playing XI this year. Kaif, who has been a mentor of Pant in Delhi Capitals, believes the captain should have supported youngster though he has shown poor performance.

“Even for the wicketkeeping role, they are shuffling many players. India needs a permanent specialist wicketkeeper. KL Rahul can be a backup wicketkeeper but I don’t think he should be the main. If you want to support Rishabh Pant over Dhoni, then Kohli should back him. He should not be the water boy of the team,” Kaif added.

Virat Kohli can become successful than MS Dhoni: Mohammad Kaif

Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Mohammad Kaif
MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

Kaif wants Kohli to learn the quality of supporting players which would benefit the team in the future. He said that team India, presently, has match-winners but the captain needs to back them to attain success. He further stated that Kohli could have a better record as a captain than MS Dhoni when he retires.

“Kohli and his team should overcome this hurdle. If it is so, Kohli will be the most successful captain when he retires. Kohli has match-winners, good players, you have to back them up, you have to build a team, if they stay as one team, it’ll tremendous, by this way Virat Kohli can become the best captain and surpass Dhoni when he retires,” Kaif concluded.

Kohli, who took the captaincy of white-ball cricket in 2017, has led the team in two mega-events so far. In 2017, India went to the grand-finale but lost against Pakistan. Last year, he led the team to a semi-final against New Zealand. However, the unusual fall of top-order led the ouster of the team from the mega event. This year the team is set to play the T20 World Cup in October. Kohli has a big opportunity in hand to win the ICC trophy.

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