In the aftermath of India’s 3-1 series loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25, criticism have come from all corners. Be it fans or ex-cricketers, all have lambasted India for their below-average performance down under. A former Indian cricketer has even sparked a debate by branding the Indian cricket team as ‘white-ball bullies’. This statement comes as a sharp critique following India’s failure to retain the prestigious BGT.

India’s struggle despite a positive start

Notably, the Rohit Sharma-led India started the series with a promising win in Perth, which raised hopes of a successful campaign in Australia. However, the subsequent matches saw the Indian team struggle, particularly with the bat, leading to losses in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. The series outcome has not only been a blow to India’s pride but has also dashed their hopes of securing a spot in the final of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) for the third consecutive time.

Former Indian cricketer terms India as white-ball bullies

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif, who has played 125 ODIs and 13 Tests, was pretty vocal in his assessment during a post-series analysis. Kaif acknowledged India’s dominance in white-ball cricket, labeling the team as “white-ball bullies,” but pointed out the shortcomings in adapting to challenging conditions in Test cricket.

Kaif highlighted that the team struggles on turning tracks at home and seaming conditions abroad, especially in Australia, underscoring the urgency to build a robust Test side that can compete at the highest level across all conditions.

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“I am telling you the truth. Whatever happened was right. Now it’s time to work on our Test cricket. Everyone will say that we are a champions side in the white-ball. But if India wants to win the World Test Championship (WTC), we need to build a strong Test side. We have to learn how to play on turning tracks; in Australia we will have to learn to play on seaming conditions. The truth is that we are just white-ball bullies. We are lagging too far behind,” said Kaif in a video shared on his X (formerly Twitter) timeline.

Kaif further stressed the importance of domestic cricket in preparing players for Test success. He urged players to prioritize matches on turning and seaming tracks to develop the skills needed to thrive in varied conditions. Without this preparation and focus on domestic cricket, Kaif warned, India would continue to fall short in achieving its WTC aspirations.

“If we have to win WTC, then players will have to give importance to domestic cricket. They need to play on the turning tracks; they will have to practice on the seaming tracks; otherwise, we will not be able to win,” added Kaif.

Also READ: Here’s the updated WTC 2023-25 points table after India loses the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia

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