Accusing India captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid of botching up their plans in the ODI World Cup final against Australia last November, former India batter Mohammed Kaif said the duo was involved in altering the pitch before the defeat in Ahmedabad.
India, favourites to lift the title at home after 12 years, were undefeated in the league stage of the campaign and entered the summit clash on the back of ten consecutive wins. However, the hosts crumbled before a well-oiled Australian unit on a tacky pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium in the final.
Kaif, who was on commentary duties in Ahmedabad during the match, observed that Rohit and Dravid made regular evening inspections for three successive days before the final. Speaking in an interview with the Lallantop, Kaif said he saw the surface gradually changing colours, criticizing the Indian team management for doctoring the pitch before their downfall.
“Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid came in the evening to inspect the pitch and this was done for three days straight, and I saw the pitch changing colour. Cummins hai, Starc hai, inke paas tez gendbaazi hai toh inko slow pitch do aur wahan galti hui.(I was there in Ahmedabad for three days. They have Cummins, and Starc who are fast bowlers, so give them a slow pitch and that was a mistake),” Kaif revealed.
“Log kitna bhi bole curator apna kaam karta hai hum kuch nahi bolte, bakwaas hai(No matter how much people say that curators make the pitch and we don’t interfere. It is all nonsense),” Kaif remarked.
On the afternoon of the final, Australia won the toss with Pat Cummins opting to bowl first on what according to him was a “dry wicket” with conditions being “quite dewy in the night at this venue (Ahmedabad).”
Meanwhile, Rohit maintained that he “would’ve batted first. Big game and runs on the board.”
While Rohit produced a spellbinding charge with his 31-ball 47, the middle-order struggled to come to terms with the nature of the pitch against Australia’s bowling attack. Though fifties from Virat Kohli and KL Rahul took India to 240 in 50 overs, a whirlwind Travis Head century (137) helped Australia romp to a six-wicket win and their sixth World Cup title.
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