Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif had a foot-in-mouth moment when he decided to mock New Zealand’s Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips as some “mediocre” bowlers found in every local club in India.
Kaif’s comments came after the Kiwi duo destroyed India’s world-class batting lineup in the final Test, handing the home side a historic 3-0 series whitewash.
Despite Patel’s impressive haul of 11 wickets in the third Test, Kaif attributed the spinner’s success to the Indian team’s poor performance rather than Patel’s skill.
“Ajaz Patel didn’t bowl well. If you see his pitch map, he delivered two full-tosses, two short balls, and two length deliveries but still managed to take wickets,” Kaif stated, dismissing the quality of Patel’s bowling.
Kaif’s comments extended to New Zealand’s part-time spinner Glenn Phillips, who also made significant contributions in the Mumbai Test. “Glenn Phillips is a part-timer and he doesn’t know how to bowl good deliveries. We lost to part-timers and not to quality spinners,” Kaif remarked, further fueling the controversy.
"Ajaz Patel jaise spinner har local club mein mil jayenge" #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/5yNOIb9KGN
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 4, 2024
Kaif’s remarks quickly drew ire from cricket fans and analysts alike, who took to social media to express their disapproval. Many users criticized Kaif for his dismissive tone and lack of recognition of Patel’s achievements.
One user quipped, “Are you saying the Indian batting lineup can’t handle local club bowlers now?” while another commented, “So rude to say that Virat Kohli cannot even play club bowlers.”
The backlash continued as more users joined the conversation, highlighting the inconsistency in Kaif’s analysis. One fan asked,
So you mean that Indian so-called supreme cricket team was vanquished by a local level spin bowler?
Another user defended Patel’s performance, stating, “Ajaz Patel’s exceptional control and strategic variations cannot be undermined by casual comments. His performance in the third Test was a masterclass, proving his mettle against top-tier batsmen. Such talent deserves recognition, not dismissal.”
Ajaz Patel’s performance in the Mumbai Test was nothing short of extraordinary. His ability to exploit the conditions and outsmart India’s renowned batting lineup was a testament to his skill and perseverance. Patel’s 22 wickets at the Wankhede Stadium were instrumental in New Zealand’s series victory.
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