“The blame was put on Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma” - IPL winner slams team management after whitewash in IND vs SA 2025 Tests

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has slammed the team management for shifting the blame on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli following the stunning 0-3 loss versus New Zealand at home last year. After yet another whitewash to South Africa on Wednesday, Kaif opined that Gautam Gambhir and his coaching unit should have learnt last year itself.

As India suffered their first Test series loss at home after 12 years in 2024, then captain Rohit and Kohli came under heavy scrutiny for their underwhelming batting returns. With both retiring from red-ball cricket earlier this year, India blooded in youngsters and drew 2-2 in England, followed by a home win against the West Indies. However, the hosts looked listless against WTC champions South Africa, who registered their first series victory on Indian soil in 25 years.

Reflecting on the current team management's tactics, Kaif claimed that they seemed to have no clue who to play where. Observing a lack of transparency, the 44-year-old claimed that the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravichandran Ashwin would've stayed with little convincing. Kaif, who won IPL 2008 with RR, said in the latest video on his YouTube channel:

"Our eyes didn’t open after the 3-0 defeat to New Zealand. The blame was put on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Sarfaraz Khan was scoring 150 on a seaming track but was dropped. The preparation was anyway not there. In Guwahati, Washington Sundar came to bat after Nitish Kumar Reddy. So, we are committing mistakes continuously. From No.3, Sundar went to No.8. He shouldn’t have batted at No.3 in the first place. They removed the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami. If there was communication and transparency, they would have stopped Virat Kohli from retiring. Even Ashwin’s retirement could’ve been stopped by saying that he will be needed in India. We lost our diamonds in search of youth."

Kaif also questioned the need to play six bowlers in India where Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja often proved to be a handful, adding:

"There is no No.3 like Pujara even now. They are not giving proper chances even to the new players. Who plays six bowlers in India? Ashwin and Jadeja were often enough to win a Test match in India. Nitish Kumar Reddy played and he hardly bowled. When Australia came to India in 2004, there were only four main bowlers for them – McGrath, Lee, Gillespie and Warne. Along with that seven specialist batters. Here India are playing six bowlers and making mistakes consistently."

With Ashwin retiring from Tests last December, all-rounder Jadeja was the most experienced bowler in the squad. But the left-arm spinner's returns with the ball was underwhelming by his standards, managing 10 wickets in four innings at 21.90.

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"Players like Pujara, Ashwin, Rohit and Kohli also went through rough patches" - Mohammad Kaif

Mohammad Kaif. (Image Credits: Mohammad Kaif X)

With head coach Gautam Gambhir pinning India's struggles on the transition phase after the retirement of the seniors, Mohammad Kaif countered that the seasoned players needed backing from the coach amid their struggles. He warned that Gambhir will need to support the juniors if they go through a rough patch, elaborating:

"Why did the senior players leave? Rohit Sharma had called Rahul Dravid that they reached the final of 2023 World Cup and Dravid’s tenure was done. But Rohit knew they needed Dravid. So, he extended the contract to the T20 World Cup in 2024 and India won. What I meant is the current regime is lacking transparency and communication. Virat Kohli wouldn’t have gone if some communication had taken place. Even Rohit, Ashwin, Pujara would’ve stayed. If a player has done well for 10-12 years and he struggles in one season, that’s where the examination for coach lies."

"A player needs backing when he struggles. Even new players will be out of form and they will need some backing too. Players like Pujara, Ashwin, Rohit and Kohli also went through rough patches. Doesn’t mean you leave them and move ahead. A coach must implement one rule for both seniors and juniors."

Virat Kohli, who captained India in 68 Tests, didn't suffer a Test series loss at home and notably became the first Indian skipper to enjoy victory in Australia.