“On 23rd February, India will earn a lot of praise by beating Pakistan” - Former India cricketer’s brutal dig after 1-3 loss in BGT 2024-25

Former India player Mohammad Kaif has slammed the side for their 1-3 loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test series in and against Australia. He took a dig at Team India, saying beating Pakistan in the 2025 Champions Trophy will earn them massive praise and make people forget about their test frailties.

India failed to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final for the first time after finishing runners-up in the previous two editions in 2021 and 2023. They suffered an embarrassing 0-3 home series defeat to New Zealand before the 1-3 hammering against Australia, which eliminated them from the race for the 2025 WTC final.

In a video posted on his X handle, Kaif said:

"On 23rd February, India will earn a lot of praise by beating Pakistan (in Champions Trophy) and everyone will say we are a champion team in white-ball cricket. But if India want to win the World Test Championship then we will have to make a Test match team, will have to learn to play on seaming tracks."

He added:

"The truth is that we are just white-ball bullies. We are lagging too far behind. If we have to win WTC, then players will have to play domestic cricket on turning tracks, will have to practice on seaming tracks, otherwise we will not be able to win."

The back-to-back Test series losses to New Zealand and Australia broke two of India's longest streaks. The defeat against the Kiwis was their first home series loss since 2012-13, and they lost a bilateral Test series to Australia for the first time since 2014-15.

"It's not just Gautam Gambhir who is at fault" - Mohammad Kaif

Australia V India - Cricket Test Press Conference - Source: Getty

In the same video, Mohammad Kaif refused to put the entire blame on head coach Gautam Gambhir for India's recent Test debacle and urged the players to play the Ranji Trophy and other domestic games.

Gambhir took over as India's head coach after Rahul Dravid's departure in July 2024. However, India suffered a 0-2 ODI series loss in Sri Lanka before the Test series defeats to New Zealand and Australia under Gambhir.

"India lost 1-3, and I think this is a wake-up call, because now we have to pay our attention towards Test cricket. It's not just Gautam Gambhir who is at fault. All players get the chance to play Ranji Trophy, but it gets tiresome for the players and they prefer rest over playing Ranji Trophy. They don't play Ranji Trophy, they don't play practice matches then how will they become better players?" Kaif said.

He added:

"It's tough to play on turning tracks in India and tougher to play on seaming tracks in Australia and South Africa. So if you don't practice well, WTC will keep eluding you. What has happened, it has happened for the good and now Team India needs to work hard in Test cricket."

Team India's next Test assignment is in June when they tour England for a five-match series.