Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has proposed a significant tactical shift ahead of T20 World Cup final against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Kaif suggested that the team management should consider dropping opener Abhishek Sharma, whose performance throughout the tournament has been underwhelming. Aside from a lone half-century against Zimbabwe, Abhishek has struggled to find his rhythm, failing to provide the explosive starts expected of him in the shortest format. The southpaw has scored just 89 runs across six innings, clocking 0, 0, 0, 15, 10 and 9.
Kaif wants Rinku Singh to replace Abhishek Sharma in T20 World Cup final
This prolonged slump with the bat appears to be taking a toll on Sharma's confidence in other areas of the game as well. Kaif noted that his poor batting form has seemingly bled into his fielding, resulting in several costly dropped catches during crucial moments of the tournament.
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In light of these struggles, Kaif advocated for the inclusion of Rinku Singh in the starting XI. By bringing in Singh, India would add a proven finisher to their middle order, potentially stabilising the lineup and adding much-needed depth as they prepare to face the Kiwis for the championship title.
“India can give Abhishek Sharma a break. He has played a lot of matches now. There is no harm in making changes. You can make changes in the shortest format. Roston Chase opened against India as Brandon King was out of form. They backed him for five or six matches, but they gave him a break for a big match. I believe that, like you brought in Sanju, and he did a great job, so that change worked in your favour," Kaif said on his YouTube channel.
“India have proven players. Rinku Singh scores runs everywhere, be it Tests, Ranji Trophy, or the IPL. Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj also take wickets everywhere. When you look in the dugout to see who can replace Abhishek Sharma, you see Rinku Singh sitting there. So, bring him in. A guy is struggling, and another guy is sitting outside despite doing well,” he added.
I think they might not drop Varun: Mohammed Kaif
While there is growing speculation that Varun Chakravarthy might be dropped due to his inconsistent performance during the T20 World Cup, Kaif has taken a different stance. Despite the mystery spinner not being at his absolute best, Kaif remains skeptical about the idea of removing him from the lineup at this stage of the tournament.
“I think they might not drop Varun. They would work on him, and he might change his line in the next match,” he further stated.
Addressing the comparisons between Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, Mohammad Kaif emphasized the vast difference in their career stages. He pointed out that Sharma is still finding his footing in major ICC events, whereas Samson is a seasoned T20 veteran with years of high-pressure experience under his belt.
Given this gap in their professional backgrounds, Kaif argued that it is ultimately unfair to measure the newcomer against the veteran. He suggested that expectations for the two should be managed differently, noting that Sharma's current struggles are partly a reflection of his relative inexperience on the world stage compared to Samson's established track record.
“The biggest difference between Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson is that Abhishek Sharma is still quite new to ICC events. He has a fantastic record, if you leave ICC events aside. There is a big difference in playing an ICC event or a World Cup.”
“Sanju has scored over 8000 runs in T20s. Be it the runs or six-hitting ability, his name comes in the top 10 in the IPL. He is already an established player. Abhishek Sharma is still young and has to work on his game. He is not a finished product. Don’t compare him with Sanju. Sanju is already a finished product. He made his India debut 11 years ago,” he concluded.