Mohammad Kaif: How did his career taper out?

[Spiderguy252]

Won us the Natwest final in 2002, then became a regular member of the ODI side and played WC 2003 and then scored a test century as well IIRC.

Then what happened? Why did he lose favour with the selectors?

PS: Was our best fielder too.

[ethan hunt]

couldnt bat , couldnt bowl , couldnt clear the 30 yard circle , he was a specialist fielder.

[Canistani Hero]

He was a decent batsman but a brilliant fielder, he couldn't sustain his place in the side because a bunch of youngsters on the domestic scene out performed them, he would always be selected over Hemang Badani and Rohan Gavaskar, not so much when you're competing against Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma

[omairsiddiqui]

Quality sledger as well.

[Spiderguy252]

Originally Posted by omairsiddiqui Quality sledger as well.

But only when blabbing in Hindi/Urdu.

When Gilly got him, he was quiet as a mouse.

[Legend Killer]

Originally Posted by Spiderguy252 But only when blabbing in Hindi/Urdu. When Gilly got him, he was quiet as a mouse.

Thats understandable though, english isn't his first language. I am sure Gilly won't be able to sledge in Urdu/Hindi either

[insaan]

Was a decent batsman at number 7, and our best fielder. He could have been used higher up the order. I think he should have been given more chances. Averaged more than 50 in his last test series.

I remember the headline in one British newspaper after the Natwest Trophy final at Lords : At the Mecca of Cricket, Mohammad performs a miracle.

[IgnitedMind]

He was playing really bad at the end and then never did well enough in domestic to warrant a place beating others...one of the best fielders!!!!

Do not think he will be playing for india ever again..but will remembered as a person who played on huge role in one of India's biggest and most memorable win. In one way that win brought new life into Indian cricket with youngsters, improved fielding,agression...

[Legend Killer]

Originally Posted by insaan Was a decent batsman at number 7, and our best fielder. He could have been used higher up the order. I think he should have been given more chances. Averaged more than 50 in his last test series. I remember the headline in one British newspaper after the Natwest Trophy final at Lords : At the Mecca of Cricket, Mohammad performs a miracle.

interesting, so on what basis was he dropped from the test team?

[insaan]

He was not given a chance to settle. His career is similar to Gautam Gambhir's initial test career.

Kaif after 13 tests: 32.84 , 1 century, 3 fifties.
Gambhir after 14 tests: 32.95, 1 century, 3 fifties.

Gambhir was given more chances and he could settle down without worrying for his place. Kaif wasn't given that chance.

[omairsiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Spiderguy252 But only when blabbing in Hindi/Urdu. When Gilly got him, he was quiet as a mouse.

Hahaha I gloved it once and didn't walk. Fielders knew it. I had nothing to say, really. When you're guilty, you can't say much.

Originally Posted by insaan He was not given a chance to settle. His career is similar to Gautam Gambhir's initial test career. Kaif after 13 tests: 32.84 , 1 century, 3 fifties. Gambhir after 14 tests: 32.95, 1 century, 3 fifties. Gambhir was given more chances and he could settle down without worrying for his place. Kaif wasn't given that chance.

That's the problem with batting lower down the order. It's a hit-and-miss situation.

[IgnitedMind]

It was a different situation...

we never had a good opening partner with sehwag for a span to 3 yrs...we tried the likes akash,jaffer and co.....so since gautam looked promising..he was persisted with

but with middle order filled with Dravid,Sachin,Ganguly,Laxman..there was a never space for kaif to play regularly...and when anybody of the big 4 where injured..it was usually yuvraj singh who replaced them...

[Savak]

Ganguly's exit made the difference. Never got the same backing from Dravid and Chappel.

[PakPrince]

I can never forgot the catch he took in the final stages of THAT ODI against Pakistan in Karachi!
What a catch it was and I was lucky to see it live and only a few hundred meters away from where I was

[dsrscore2]

Very inconsistent was the reason he was dropped. And Suresh Raina was also doing well, so he had to make way for him. He doesn't even play in the IPL I believe.

[bala977]

And I read somewhere that he had attitude problems and was trying to play politics when his position in the team was threatened - also, his rural background might not have enabled him to socialise and connect with the likes of Yuvraj, Sehwag etc.

Sad to see someone who was once touted as FCI (Future captain of India) not even in the playing XI

[jusarrived]

was lucky to play that many games for India . One of the least talented bats to have played for India in recent years . Loved his commitment and fielding , but that can only take you so far .