New Delhi: Star India cricketer Mohammad Kaif sparked a new controversy following Indias loss at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday in the opening game of the two-match Test series against South Africa claiming that head coach Gautam Gambhirs approach has left several players gripped by fear and confusion ultimately hurting the teams progress in home conditions.

On a challenging Eden Garden pitch and with injured Shubman Gill missing for the fourth innings Indias batting collapsed folded to 93 runs while chasing 124 giving South Africa a 30-run victory and a 1-0 lead in the series.

On a difficult Eden Gardens pitch and with the injured Shubman Gill absent for the final innings Indias batting unit crumbled for 93 while chasing 124 allowing South Africa to clinch a 30-run win and move 1-0 ahead in the series.
Mohammad Kaif slams team India head coach Gautam Gambhir
Whichever players are playing they don’t have a feeling that someone is standing for them. Koi backing nahi hai sab darr ke khel rahe hain. (There is no backing; everyone is playing with fear.) Sab dar ke khel rahe hain koi khul ke nahi khel raha (Everyone is playing in fear nobody is playing with freedom) he said speaking on his YouTube channel.

Kaif also noted that Sarfaraz Khan faced a situation similar to Sudharsan as he was left out despite hitting a century in his previous Test series for India and eventually slipped out of consideration for a place in the squad.

If Sarfaraz Khans place is not confirmed after 100 scoring a hundred. Even after scoring 100 hes not able to make a comeback. Sai Sudharsan scored 87. He doesn’t play the next Test match. I think there is a lot of confusion in this team.

The former batter added that with players already uncertain about their spots the team managements choice to prepare turning tracks is only increasing their anxiety.
Kaif said that players are already uncertain about their spots
Players ko apne pe belief kam ho gaya hai thoda insecurity bhi aa gyi hai (Players are not believing in themselves there is insecurity as well). When there is insecurity and you come to play at turning tracks you won’t be able to do well he added.

Earlier on Sunday even as Gambhir strongly defended the Eden Gardens pitch and applauded Sundars innings Kaif countered that the all-rounder performed well because he is used to turning surfaces in Chennai. He added that Sai Sudharsan also from Tamil Nadu could have been just as useful against South Africa’s spinners.

Why did Sundar play well? He comes from Chennai. He has grown by playing on turning tracks. He knows how to use his feet and which balls to play with soft hands. How to keep the bottom hand.

Sai Sudharsan also comes from Chennai. If he were there at No. 3 and Sundar at No. 8 you would have won this Test match. He plays spin very well. Sudharsan comes from Chennai. Hes in form and scored 87. He’s not there in the playing XI Kaif added.