Rohit Sharma and Co are white-ball bullies, lagging behind in Test cricket, blasts former teammate

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Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has delivered a sharp critique of Team India's Test cricket performance, particularly after their 3-1 defeat in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

Kaif, taking to Twitter, labelled the Rohit Sharma and team as "white-ball bullies" and highlighted their struggles in the longest format of the game. In his candid remarks, Kaif said, "Beat Pakistan on February 23, and you'll take all the praise. Everyone will call you champions in white-ball cricket."

However, he stressed that accolades in shorter formats cannot mask the deficiencies in Test cricket. He added, "If India wants to win the World Test Championship (WTC), we must build a strong Test team and focus on playing in diverse conditions."

Kaif pointed out that India's inability to adapt to turning tracks at home and seaming conditions abroad has been a recurring issue. "To succeed in Tests, players need to prioritise domestic cricket. They must play on challenging pitches in tournaments like Ranji Trophy and practice in varying conditions. Without this, WTC glory will remain a dream," he said.

The former cricketer also emphasised the importance of domestic tournaments, suggesting that players skipping them hampers their development. "Many players avoid Ranji Trophy due to its demanding schedule. But how will they improve without these foundational matches?"

Mohammad Kaif called the 3-1 series loss a wake-up call. "This defeat should jolt us into paying more attention to Test cricket. It's not just the fault of one individual, like Gautam Gambhir, but the entire team needs to take responsibility."

Kaif's words resonated as a plea to rejuvenate India's Test cricket ambitions. He concluded, "What happened in the series was a lesson. It's time to act and work hard to restore India's stature in Tests."

While the Indian team continues to shine in white-ball formats under Rohit Sharma, Kaif's remarks underline the need for introspection and better preparation in the traditional format. As fans await the Champions Trophy, the question remains: Will India rise to the challenge in Test cricket, or will the WTC trophy continue to elude them?