India vs England: Can India Bounce Back? Cricket Legend Weighs In!

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes India can still level the Test series against England, despite recent setbacks. He urges the team to remain calm and maintain faith in the current playing XI. Kaif highlights the team's resilience in the absence of key senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Shami, and R. Ashwin, praising Shubman Gill's leadership and batting prowess.

Kaif's Keys to Success for India

Kaif emphasises the importance of consistent team selection, warning against knee-jerk reactions to defeats. He argues that changing plans after a single bad day is detrimental. "You played good cricket for four days and lost on the fifth — that doesn’t mean you change your plans,” he stated. He advocates for continued support for players like Karun Nair and trust in the current squad.

India's Performance So Far: A Pleasant Surprise

Kaif acknowledges that India has exceeded expectations in the series. He points out that they dominated for a significant portion of the matches, playing solid cricket with both bat and ball. He recalls that pre-series predictions often favoured England with a dominant victory, but the young Indian team has proven their mettle.

• India showed great resilience.
• Shubman Gill has excelled as captain.
• The team has surprised many with their performance.

He also commented on the close chase in the last match at Lord's and Ravindra Jadeja’s approach, suggesting that a slightly more cautious approach from Jadeja might have altered the outcome. With Jasprit Bumrah expected to feature in the next Test, Kaif remains optimistic about India's chances.

"There’s a strong chance of a 2–2 finish — India just needs to stay calm and play smart,” Kaif concludes.