the former India Batsman Mohammad Kaif on Friday criticized Team India for not sticking with Rishabh Pant as an opener in the first T20I against West Indies.
The 41-year-old was not happy with the team’s decision to open with Rohit Sharma alongside Suryakumar Yadav. Kaif was of the opinion that Yadav is a proper middle-order batsman who can provide stability and control the innings.
“Suriyakumar has the role of controlling the innings in the middle and adding those finishing touches. In fact, with the return of Kohli and Rahul, his role will remain as the No. 4 batsman. But Pant should have tried. Clearly, I didn’t understand what happened. Ishaan Kishan is also waiting,” Kaif was quoted as saying on Fancode.
In the first T20I, Yadav scored 24 runs in 16 with three fours and a six, before being dismissed by left-arm spinner Akil Hossein.
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Pant opened the T20I series against England and displayed his fearless demeanor of batting. Kaif urged head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma to give Pant enough chances at the top of the order.
“Whatever it was, I didn’t understand it at all. If you were trying Rishabh Pant for 2-3 matches as an opener, you should have gone with him today. Give him at least five chances. And with this strategy of captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid, they support the players at least in 5-6 matches. But it did not happen with Pant.
India beat West Indies in the series, starting the first T20 match at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad by a margin of 68 runs. After a half-century from Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik’s cameo ensured that India reached 190/6 for one wicket, which slowed down as the innings progressed.
And the Indian spinners ruled the roost when the hosts chasing 191 runs came to bat on the same pitch that looked big from the start.
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