Overview
- Speaking after the Kolkata loss, Mohammad Kaif said India’s players are “playing with fear” because they feel no one is backing their places in the Test side.
- India were bowled out for 93 while chasing 123 against South Africa on a turning Eden Gardens pitch, with Shubman Gill unavailable for the fourth-innings chase due to injury, according to Hindustan Times.
- Kaif cited Sarfaraz Khan being sidelined despite a century and Sai Sudharsan’s omission after scores of 87 and 39 as examples that he says have damaged self-belief.
- He questioned the bowling-heavy selection that featured four spinners, with Washington Sundar and Axar Patel in the XI and Sundar promoted to No. 3, arguing such reshuffles create instability even though Sundar batted well.
- He warned that insecurity grows on spin-friendly tracks and, per News18’s tally, this defeat marked Gautam Gambhir’s fourth loss in eight home Tests.