Former Indian batsman Mohammad Kaif criticized Virat Kohli for not endorsing his players like Sourav Ganguly used to do in his playing days.
He made this observation during a discussion on Sony Sports about the non-inclusion of Shreyas Iyer in the Indian team for the first T20I against Australia.
Mohammad Kaif questioned the exclusion of the Delhi Capitals skipper from the first Q20 against Australia. He noted that the middle-order hitter proved his credentials as a No. 4 hitter in both the IPL and the series against New Zealand earlier this year.
“Shreyas Iyer had become their main player at one point. That he is their number 4 hitter, that ends the game. Whether he talks about the IPL or returns to the New Zealand series, there he also finished games in Number 4”. . He scored 50 not out or 33 not out, he was playing well in position number 4. “
The former middle order hitter noted that he is not surprised that Shreyas Iyer is not part of the first T20I, as such selections have been the norm in Virat Kohli’s reign as patron.
“He had two or three bad innings at ODI, so they didn’t play him in the first T20I. This is the culture of the Indian team and we have all understood it. I’m not surprised that they dropped it.”
He added that Indian players are aware that they will only have a couple of chances to prove themselves as long as Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri are in charge.
“This is Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri’s kind of thinking and the players are getting it too. The players also know that they will only get two innings, this is the kind of team it is.”
Mohammad Kaif on the difference in the captaincy styles of Virat Kohli and Sourav Ganguly
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