Karthik blasts India in viral rant after whitewash against SA, Kaif urges Gambhir and Co to admit to mistakes first

Former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik did not hold back as he blasted the current Indian team following their 408-run defeat against South Africa in Guwahati on Wednesday, which resulted in the hosts suffering yet another clean sweep in a home Test series.

Karthik, known to be quite the jovial person both on and off the field, was visibly furious as he claimed that visiting teams will be “licking their lips” ahead of an India tour going forward instead of worrying about their home dominance.

‘DK’ also urged the powers that be to make “tough decisions” at the earliest with India facing its worst crisis in the Test format since making their debut in 1932 after suffering two whitewashes at home in the span of a year.

“Teams used to be scared of coming to India to play Test cricket. Now they must be licking their lips,” he said on Wednesday. “A second whitewash in a span of 12 months. In the last three series played here in India, two have been whitewashes. These are tough times for India in Test cricket, and tough decisions might have to be taken,” Karthik said in a video posted on Instagram on Wednesday after the Rishabh Pant-led hosts were bowled out for 140 after being set 549 to win.

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Karthik, who represented India in 26 Tests in addition to 94 ODIs and 60 T20Is, couldn’t digest the fact that India’s bowlers – pacers and spinners alike – were outperformed by their South African counterparts on their own turf, greatly damaging the team’s aura of dominance at home.

The cricketer-turned-commentator also questioned the team management’s muddled thinking with regards to selection calls and player roles, citing all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar as an example.

“Pacers and spinners are being out-bowled in India. One too many all-rounders are being played. Nitish Reddy, the nominated pace all-rounder, has bowled 14 overs across the whole domestic calendar season. India had just two players who scored hundreds in this Test series. South Africa had seven,” Karthik continued.

“In the WTC cycle, India’s No. 3 holds the second-worst record in the first innings of a Test match, averaging 26. Who is our No. 3? Washington plays at No. 3 in Kolkata, Sai Sudharsan plays No. 3 in Guwahati. Is chopping and changing helping India, or do we need more stability and consistency?” he added.

Kaif urges Indian team management to first admit to their mistakes

Former India middle-order batter Mohammad Kaif echoed Karthik’s sentiments, stating that while he remained hopeful of the team clawing its way back from the crisis that it currently finds itself in, they have to first admit their mistakes before working on the areas of improvement.

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“I remain hopeful about the Indian team. Hope is what keeps the world runs on. India can bounce back from its current situation. But they have to admit their mistakes first, and ponder over where things went wrong for them,” Kaif said in a video posted on his social media accounts.

“Mistakes such as 37 players featuring in 16 Tests, Sundar batting at three in one game and nine in another, the lack of stability. India will also have to make up their minds whether they want to play on turning tracks at home or on sporting wickets. The Jadeja-Ashwin pair has been split up. Jadeja and Ashwin were great match winners at home, but they have parted ways since.

“The team will have to identify and admit their mistakes, only then can there be some improvement,” the former India batter added.

Kaif also urged the team management to continue backing young squad after deciding to move on from seniors such as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin.

Also Read | Gambhir accused of fuelling insecurity among players by Kaif: ‘Sab darr ke khel rahe hain’

Former captains Rohit and Kohli had retired from Test cricket in May while Ashwin had announced his retirement from international cricket midway during the Australia tour in December.

Former South African batter Herschelle Gibbs, meanwhile, offered a radical solution to India’s troubles, urging the BCCI to shorten the summer window for the Indian Premier League and devote more time towards Test cricket.

“Shorten IPL and play more test cricket,” the former Proteas top-order batter wrote on X in response to a question on India’s dramatic decline under head coach Gautam Gambhir.