“I don’t think India will win this game” - Former India cricketer’s brutal claim amid IND vs SA 2025 2nd Test

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif made a brutal claim amid the ongoing second Test between India and South Africa in Guwahati. Kaif reckoned that the hosts may not win the Test after South Africa piled on a massive total in the first innings.

South Africa put up 489 runs in the first innings. Kaif stated that India could have a thin chance if they got to 600 in reply. However, he believed that the Proteas had the game and the series in their bag, having won the first Test in Kolkata. He reflected that these were worrying signs for the hosts.

"I don't think India will win this game from here. Maybe it can be a draw or you will lose. There is just 1% chance if you get to 600 and South Africa gets out on 100, but that will be a miracle. I feel this game and the trophy is almost in South Africa's hands. These are not good signs. It would be better to play on such a wicket first and then play on a turning track to take a chance in the last Test. Start on a normal pitch first, analyse if it suits you or not, and then go forward," he said on his YouTube channel.

The first Test was played on a turning track. India have played a lot of their home Tests in recent years on turning wickets. Kaif reckoned that the bowlers had gotten used to such tracks and could not pick wickets on better pitches. India struggled to bowl South Africa out, with the lower-order batters Senuran Muthusamy (109), Kyle Verreynne (45), and Marco Jansen (93) making them toil.

"After playing on turning tracks and getting used to them, our bowlers' habits have become bad. You play only on those wickets and then on a good pitch, you say it is a road, because you have become habituated to playing on turning tracks and it has gone bad. You are caught from every side here," he added.

The former cricketer expressed that the team required proper planning, playing attacking cricket, and having a clear mindset if they want to win, irrespective of whatever pitches they play on.

In reply to South Africa's 489, the hosts have struggled so far on the third day. Going into the tea break, they are down to 102/4, trailing by 387 runs.

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Mohammad Kaif on India having split coaching

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir has been under pressure, facing severe criticism after the defeat in the first Test. With the hosts losing four out of their six home Tests under him, there have been talks of having split coaching for different formats.

However, Mohammad Kaif did not support the idea and believed that it would not work as many players play all formats throughout the year. He reckoned that a coach could do well only if he stayed around the group throughout.

"The coach who stays with players throughout the year can do a good job. If someone comes only for Tests, he would be elsewhere during white-ball games. You can't make different squads also like those who play Tests will not play white-ball. Many players play all formats. Split coaching is not possible in India. It is very difficult here. You can only do well the more you stay around the team the whole year, then you can see the mistakes and areas for improvement and talk to players. Split coaching brings a lot of gaps and there will not be tuning. It is okay if they need a break in between, but this cannot be long-term," he said.

Gambhir has had a successful record in the white-ball formats so far, having won the 2025 Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup 2025 as well.